bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Angiocentric immunoproliferative lesions: a clinicopathologic spectrum of post-thymic T-cell proliferations
Authors: Lipford EH Jr , Margolick JB , Longo DL , Fauci AS , Jaffe ES
Published: October 2019

Twenty-three patients with angiocentric immunoproliferative lesions (AILs) including angiocentric lymphoma were evaluated clinically and pathologically. Pathologic subclassification performed without knowledge of the clinical outcome divided the cases into three histologic grades on the basis of cellular atypia and degree of inflammatory background. Immunophenotypic studies of lesions from six patients demonstrated a mature T-cell phenotype with a predominance of CD4-positive cells. Abnormalities of antigenic phenotype were demonstrated in only one case, classified as grade III. That tumor also demonstrated a clonal rearrangement of the T beta gene. Progression to malignant lymphoma following initial immunosuppressive therapy with cyclophosphamide and prednisone occurred in three of nine patients with grade I lesions and four of six patients with grade II lesions. The supervening lymphomas were usually refractory to subsequent aggressive chemotherapy, with only one patient achieving a complete remission. In contrast, seven of eight patients with grade III lesions achieved a complete remission with aggressive combination chemotherapy, two of whom also received supplemental radiation therapy. These studies support the concept that the AILs represent a spectrum of post-thymic T- cell proliferations. The single most important prognostic indicator for ultimate survival is achievement of an initial complete remission. Patients treated initially with conservative chemotherapy may be compromised in their ability to achieve a complete remission if they progress to a higher grade lesion.
Potentiation of leukotriene production following sequestration of neutrophils in isolated lungs: indirect evidence for intercellular leukotriene A4 transfer
Authors: Grimminger F , Menger M , Becker G , Seeger W
Published: October 2019

Granulocyte (polymorphonuclear leukocyte, PMN) sequestration in the microvascular bed with release of different mediators has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and allergic disorders in many organs including the lung. In the present study, we investigated the profile and quantity of leukotriene (LT) generation in isolated blood-free perfused rabbit lungs, in isolated PMNs in vitro and in rabbit lungs, following administration of PMNs, mimicking pulmonary leukostasis. Following stimulation with increasing concentrations of the calcium ionophore A 23137 (0.1 to 2 mumol/L), LTs were detected in the buffer fluid by their chromatographic mobility in different high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems, by on- line peak spectrum analysis, and by post-HPLC radioimmunoassay (RIA). In isolated lungs, a dose-dependent generation of cysteinyl LTs greater than LTB4, in the complete absence of omega-oxidation products of LTB4 as well as nonenzymatic hydrolysis products of LTA4, was evoked. PMNs in vitro showed a typical profile of LT liberation (LTB4, 20-OH-, and COOH-LTB4, nonenzymatic LTA4 metabolites). In the model of pulmonary leukostasis, the presence of omega-oxidation products of LTB4 indicated metabolic integrity of the trapped PMNs. Nonenzymatic hydrolysis products of LTA4 were, however, not detected in the combined system, whereas the cysteinyl LTs increased markedly. This profile suggests intercellular transfer of PMN-derived LTA4 to lung cells in the microenvironment. In addition, at 2 mumol/L A23187, the sum of all LTA4- derived products surpassed the arithmetic sum of the isolated preparations more than threefold. This potentiation of an LT generation under conditions of pulmonary leukostasis may be of biologic significance for amplification of inflammatory events.
Carrier detection in the Wiskott Aldrich syndrome
Authors: Fearon ER , Kohn DB , Winkelstein JA , Vogelstein B , Blaese RM
Published: October 2019

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive disease characterized by immunodeficiency and severe thrombocytopenia in affected males, but no demonstrable clinical abnormalities in carrier females. Through analysis of the methylation patterns of X-linked genes that display restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), we studied the pattern of X-chromosome inactivation in various cell populations from female relatives of patients with WAS. The peripheral blood T cells, granulocytes, and B cells of eight obligate WAS carriers were found to display specific patterns of X-chromosome inactivation clearly different from these of normal controls. Thus, carriers of WAS could be accurately identified using this analysis.
Purging of acute myeloid leukemic cells by ether lipids and hyperthermia
Authors: Okamoto S , Olson AC , Berdel WE , Vogler WR
Published: October 2019

Ether lipids (EL) and hyperthermia have been shown to possess a relatively selective cytotoxicity to leukemic cells. In this study, the combined effects of EL (ET-18-OCH3, ET-16-NHCOCH3, or BM 41.440) and hyperthermia on the growth of hematopoietic progenitors, myeloid leukemic cell lines, and leukemic cells obtained from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were examined to determine if this combination resulted in a greater selective killing of leukemic cells than that achieved by either EL or heat alone. When the cells were treated simultaneously with EL (50 micrograms/mL) and hyperthermia (42 degrees C) for one hour, the killing of leukemic cell line cells was enhanced considerably. Among the three EL, however, the combination of ET-18-OCH3 and heat seemed to be the most cytotoxic to leukemic cell line cells with no effect on the growth of hematopoietic progenitors. An increase in the duration of treatment with ET-18-OCH3 to four hours with heat added during the last hour resulted in a further reduction of leukemic cell line cells while sparing 50% of hematopoietic progenitors after cryopreservation. The combined treatment with ET-18-OCH3 and heat also inhibited the growth of leukemic progenitors obtained from AML patients by 97% to 100%. These data indicate that the combined treatment with EL and hyperthermia might offer an efficient means to eliminate myeloid leukemic cells in vitro.
Interleukin-6 (B-cell stimulatory factor 2)-dependent growth of a Lennert's lymphoma-derived T-cell line (KT-3)
Authors: Shimizu S , Hirano T , Yoshioka R , Sugai S , Matsuda T , Taga T , Kishimoto T , Konda S
Published: October 2019

A T lymphoma cell line (KT-3) established from a patient with Lennert's lymphoma showed macrophage-dependent growth. Macrophage-derived factors were able to replace the macrophage functions. Experiments using a variety of cytokines demonstrated that KT-3 proliferated in response to recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), rIL-4, or rIL-6 but did not proliferate in response to rIL-1 alpha, rIL-1 beta, rIL-3, recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF), rGM-CSF, recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha), rIFN-gamma, recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF-alpha), or native IFN-beta. Polyclonal rabbit anti-IL-6 antibody almost completely neutralized the activities of macrophage- derived factors or IL-6 but not IL-2 or IL-4. Scatchard plot analysis demonstrated that KT-3 cells indeed express IL-6 receptors. The results indicate that the macrophage-derived factor that supports the growth of KT-3 is IL-6 and suggest that macrophage-derived IL-6 may play an important role in the histopathogenesis of Lennert's lymphoma.
Quantification of plasma factor XIIa-Cl(-)-inhibitor and kallikrein-Cl(- )-inhibitor complexes in sepsis
Authors: Nuijens JH , Huijbregts CC , Eerenberg-Belmer AJ , Abbink JJ , Strack van Schijndel RJ , Felt-Bersma RJ , Thijs LG , Hack CE
Published: October 2019

Considerable evidence indicates that activation of the contact system of intrinsic coagulation plays a role in the pathogenesis of septic shock. To monitor contact activation in patients with sepsis, we developed highly sensitive radioimmunoassays (RIAs) for factor XIIa-Cl(- )-inhibitor (Cl(-)-Inh) and kallikrein-Cl(-)-Inh complexes using a monoclonal antibody (MoAb Kok 12) that binds to a neodeterminant exposed on both complexed and cleaved Cl(-)-Inh. Plasma samples were serially collected from 48 patients admitted to the intensive care unit because of severe sepsis. Forty percent of patients on at least one occasion had increased levels of plasma factor XIIa-Cl(-)-Inh (greater than 5 x 10(-4) U/mL) and kallikrein-Cl(-)-Inh (greater than 25 x 10(- 4) U/mL), that correlated at a molar ratio of approximately 1:3. Levels of factor XII antigen in plasma and both the highest as well as the levels on admission of plasma factor XIIa-Cl(-)-Inh in 23 patients with septic shock were lower than in 25 normotensive patients (P = .015: factor XII on admission; P = .04: highest factor XIIa-Cl(-)-Inh; P = .01: factor XIIa-Cl(-)-Inh on admission). No significant differences in plasma kallikrein-Cl(-)-Inh or prekallikrein antigen were found between these patients' groups. Elevated Cl(-)-Inh complex levels were measured less frequently in serial samples from patients with septic shock than in those from patients without shock (P less than .0001). Based on these results, we conclude that plasma Cl(-)-Inh complex levels during sepsis may not properly reflect the extent of contact activation.
Clinical features and outcome in childhood T-cell leukemia-lymphoma according to stage of thymocyte differentiation: a Pediatric Oncology Group Study
Authors: Crist WM , Shuster JJ , Falletta J , Pullen DJ , Berard CW , Vietti TJ , Alvarado CS , Roper MA , Prasthofer E , Grossi CE
Published: October 2019

The immunophenotypes of lymphoblasts from children with newly diagnosed T-cell acute lymphoid leukemia (T-ALL, n = 101) or T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (T-NHL, n = 31) were analyzed to correlate stage of thymocyte differentiation with clinical features and outcome. The 67 boys and 34 girls with T-ALL were 1 month to 18 years old (median, 8 years) with leukocyte counts ranging from 2 to 810 x 10(9)/L (median, 55 x 10(9)/L). Eighteen of these patients were black, and 70 had a mediastinal mass. Twenty-six boys and five girls with a median age of 9 years (range, 1 to 20 years) had T-NHL. Seven of these patients were black, and 24 had a mediastinal mass. The distributions of thymocyte developmental stages (early [CD7+], intermediate [CD1+ and/or CD4+ and/or CD8+], and mature [CD3+]) in cases of T-ALL and T-NHL were significantly different: 34%, 43%, and 23% v 6%, 62%, and 32% (P = .02). A comparison of the patients' clinical features according to the maturational stage of thymocytes failed to disclose significant differences in the majority of characteristics studied. However, patients with mature-stage T-NHL, with or without the addition of subjects with mature-stage T-ALL, were less likely to have a mediastinal mass (P = .02 for both comparisons). Those with intermediate-stage T-cell malignancy (T-ALL and T-NHL combined) were the subgroup most likely to have a mediastinal mass (P = .01). Response to remission induction therapy was significantly worse in the T-ALL subgroup with an early-stage phenotype: a failure rate of 21% v 0% and 6% for the two more differentiated phenotypic subgroups (P = .007). Event-free survival was not affected by thymocyte maturational stage in cases of either T-ALL or T-NHL. Despite evidence of clinical heterogeneity among the maturational stages of T-cell malignancies in children, these developmental subdivisions do not appear to be critical determinants of outcome once remission is achieved. We conclude that such phenotypes need not be included in the stratification plans for clinical trials using common induction treatment.
alpha-Amino-N-butyric acid stimulates fetal hemoglobin in the adult
Authors: Constantoulakis P , Papayannopoulou T , Stamatoyannopoulos G
Published: October 2019

The effect of alpha-amino-N-butyric acid (alpha ABA) on fetal hemoglobin production in the adult was examined in vivo after being administered to normal and anemic baboons and in erythroid progenitor cell cultures. Infusion of alpha ABA for five days resulted in four- to fivefold increases in the level of F reticulocytes of normal or chronically anemic baboons. The induction of HbF by alpha ABA was strikingly enhanced by the administration of 5-azacytidine. The addition of alpha ABA in culture produced a concentration-related increase of HbF in baboon CFUe and e-cluster colonies. In addition to the induction of HbF, alpha ABA stimulated the growth of all classes of erythroid progenitors in vivo or in culture. The activation of gamma- globin gene expression by alpha ABA is attributed to an interaction between regulatory sites of globin chromatin modified by alpha ABA and the immature intracellular environment of the expanding erythropoiesis. The combination of chromatin modification, DNA methylation, and the immature intracellular environment of rapid erythroid regeneration may explain the synergistic induction of HbF by alpha ABA and 5-azacytidine.
Characterization of a new megakaryocytic cell line: the Dami cell
Authors: Greenberg SM , Rosenthal DS , Greeley TA , Tantravahi R , Handin RI
Published: October 2019

A new human megakaryocytic cell line (Dami) has been established from the blood of a patient with megakaryoblastic leukemia. The Dami cells grow primarily in suspension with a doubling time of 24 to 30 hours. By light and electron microscopy, the Dami cells range in size from 12 to 120 micron in diameter and have lobulated nuclei characteristic of megakaryocytes. At least 89% of the cells react with monoclonal antibodies against platelet glycoproteins (GP) Ib and IIB/IIIa, and glycophorin. The cells do not react with antibodies against lymphoid, monocyte, granulocyte, or macrophage antigens. Thirteen percent of the cells become polyploid, spontaneously achieving greater than 4N DNA ploidy levels. In response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), the proportion of cells with ploidy levels greater than 4N increased threefold and could be separated into discrete ploidy groups. PMA also increased the expression of GPIb, the GPIIb/GPIIIa complex,l and von Willebrand factor. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a human male hyperdiploid karyotype with a modal chromosome number of 54 to 64 and several consistent clonal chromosomal abnormalities. These included a partial deletion of chromosome 5 and a translocation involving chromosome 3. In contrast to other megakaryocytic cell lines in which only a small portion of the cells express the megakaryocytic phenotype, nearly all of the Dami cells express platelet glycoproteins. Thus, the Dami cells provide a superior model in which to study human megakaryocyte biochemistry and differentiation.
Prognostic factors with high-dose melphalan for refractory multiple myeloma [see comments]
Authors: Barlogie B , Alexanian R , Smallwood L , Cheson B , Dixon D , Dicke K , Cabanillas F
Published: October 2019

High doses of melphalan (HDM) and dexamethasone were administered to 43 patients with advanced multiple myeloma, 36 of whom were refractory to both standard melphalan-prednisone and vincristine-adriamycin- dexamethasone (VAD). Forty-four percent responded with greater than 75% reduction in calculated tumor mass, including three patients who achieved a complete remission. The response rate to HDM was 56% in 18 relapsing patients and 50% in 12 patients with less than 12 months of primary drug resistance, but it was only 23% among the remaining 13 unresponsive patients. A high early mortality rate of 30% was confined to 26 patients with either poor performance (Zubrod greater than 1) or impaired renal function (creatinine greater than 1.4 mg%). When this toxic treatment was given to the 21 patients with good performance (Zubrod less than 2) whose disease lacked high serum lactic dehydrogenase (less than or equal to 500 U/L) as a recently recognized feature of high-grade myeloma, a superior median survival of 18 months was obtained as opposed to only 3 months for the 22 remaining patients (P less than .001). Thus, when employed in a timely fashion, HDM overcomes resistance to standard chemotherapy and VAD and benefits selected patients with advanced myeloma.
Characterization of a new non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cell line (NCEB-1) with a chromosomal (11:14) translocation [t(11:14)(q13;q32)]
Authors: Saltman DL , Cachia PG , Dewar AE , Ross FM , Krajewski AS , Ludlam C , Steel CM
Published: October 2019

A new cell line, NCEB-1, was established by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a patient with centroblastic-centrocytic diffuse lymphoma expressing IgM lambda. The transformed cells were lymphoblastoid, with many cells showing a plasmacytoid morphology. The NCEB-1 cells had cytoplasmic Ig (CyIg), with loss of the surface Ig (SIg) expression. Cytogenetic analysis of the cell line demonstrated two clones with variations: a hypodiploid clone, with a complex karyotype including a t(11;14)(q13;q32) similar to the original tumor cells, and a near tetraploid clone with the same markers. Southern blot analysis of DNA from the patient's neoplastic cells and NCEB-1 demonstrated identical Ig heavy chain gene rearrangement, confirming the origin of the cell line. The cell line was not tumorigenic when tested in an in vitro assay using immunosuppressed mice. NCEB-1 has been in continuous culture for 9 months and will be valuable for the in vivo study of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and EBV transformation.
The incidence of painful crisis in homozygous sickle cell disease: correlation with red cell deformability
Authors: Lande WM , Andrews DL , Clark MR , Braham NV , Black DM , Embury SH , Mentzer WC
Published: October 2019

To determine whether the vasoocclusive severity of homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease is influenced by cellular dehydration, we correlated the incidence of painful crisis with steady-state measurements of red cell hydration. Sixteen children with SS disease were followed for 3.3 to 8 years (mean, 6.8 years), and a single crisis rate was calculated for each patient. At the time of well visits, cellular hydration was assessed by measuring cell deformability, the percentage of red cells with a density greater than or equal to 1.1056 g/mL, and the percentage of irreversibly sickled cells (ISC). The incidence of painful crisis showed a strong positive correlation with Omax, a deformability measurement reflecting cellular hydration (r = .84, P less than .002), and with hemoglobin concentration (r = .59, P = .04). That is, higher crisis rates were observed in patients with less dehydrated, more deformable red cells and also in patients with higher hemoglobin concentrations. Furthermore, cell deformability and hemoglobin concentration were independent predictors of the incidence of painful crisis, which is consistent with separate effects of these two red cells parameters on vasoocclusive severity.
Effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on hematopoietic progenitor cells in cancer patients
Authors: Duhrsen U , Villeval JL , Boyd J , Kannourakis G , Morstyn G , Metcalf D
Published: October 2019

Hematopoietic progenitor cell levels were monitored in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of 30 cancer patients receiving recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating-factor (rG-CSF) in a phase I/II clinical trial. The absolute number of circulating progenitor cells of granulocyte-macrophage, erythroid, and megakaryocyte lineages showed a dose-related increase up to 100-fold after four days of treatment with rG-CSF and often remained elevated two days after the cessation of therapy. The relative frequency of different types of progenitor cells in peripheral blood remained unchanged. The frequency of progenitor cells in the marrow was variable after rG-CSF treatment but in most patients was slightly decreased. The responsiveness of bone marrow progenitor cells to stimulation in vitro by rG-CSF and granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor did not change significantly during rG-CSF treatment. In patients nine days after treatment with melphalan and then rG-CSF, progenitor cell levels were very low with doses of rG-CSF at or below 10 micrograms/kg/d, but equaled or exceeded pretreatment values when 30 or 60 micrograms/kg/d of rG-CSF was given.
The human interleukin-1 alpha gene is located on the long arm of chromosome 2 at band q13
Authors: Lafage M , Maroc N , Dubreuil P , de Waal Malefijt R , Pebusque MJ , Carcassonne Y , Mannoni P
Published: October 2019

Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) are two biochemically distinct, but distantly related, polypeptidic cytokines that play a key role in inflammation, immunologic reactions, and tissue repair. Recently, it has been shown that IL-1 alpha is identical to hematopoietin 1, which was described as a hematopoietic growth factor acting on early progenitor cells in synergy with other hematopoietic growth factors. In this report we discuss our use of in situ hybridization on human prometaphase cells with a human IL-1 alpha cDNA probe to localize the human IL-1 alpha gene on the proximal part of the long arm of chromosome 2 at band q13, in the same chromosomal region as the IL-1 beta gene.
Serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor levels in healthy volunteers and patients with various disorders as estimated by enzyme immunoassay
Authors: Watari K , Asano S , Shirafuji N , Kodo H , Ozawa K , Takaku F , Kamachi S
Published: October 2019

In order to better understand the patho-physiologic role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), we estimated its serum levels in healthy persons and patients with various disorders, using a newly developed enzyme immunoassay (Motojima et al). In 49 of 56 normal healthy persons (88%), the levels were beneath the sensitivity of the assay (less than 30 pg/mL), while in the remaining seven healthy persons, the levels ranged from 33 to 163 pg/mL. On the other hand, nine of 11 patients (82%) with idiopathic aplastic anemia (AA), one patient with Fanconi's anemia, six of 12 patients (50%) with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), five of 12 patients (42%) with acute leukemia without any blast cells in the blood (M4: one, M5: one, L1: one, and L2: two), six of 18 patients (33%) with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), one of two patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL), two of four patients with lung cancer, one patient with cyclic neutropenia, two of seven patients with malignant lymphoma, and four patients with acute infection had G-CSF levels ranging from 46 pg/mL to greater than 2,000 pg/mL. Interestingly, a reverse correlation between blood neutrophil count and serum G-CSF level was clearly demonstrated for aplastic anemia (r = -.8169, P less than .01). Moreover, it was found that the G-CSF level rose during the neutropenic phase of cyclic neutropenia and after chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in three patients with leukemia; also high G-CSF levels were positively correlated to blood neutrophil counts in some cases of infectious disorders and lung cancer. The cellular sources and the mechanisms for production and secretion of circulating G-CSF were not investigated in this study, but the data presented here strongly indicate that G-CSF plays an important role as a circulating neutrophilopoietin.
Epinephrine induces platelet fibrinogen receptor expression, fibrinogen binding, and aggregation in whole blood in the absence of other excitatory agonists
Authors: Shattil SJ , Budzynski A , Scrutton MC
Published: October 2019

The exposure of fibrinogen receptors is an early event in agonist- induced platelet activation. Previous measurements of fibrinogen binding or aggregation in platelet-rich plasma or washed platelets have failed to define whether the initial response to epinephrine results solely from a direct effect of this agonist. To address this problem, we have measured fibrinogen receptor exposure on platelets in whole blood by using flow cytometry and a fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled monoclonal antibody specific for the activated fibrinogen receptor (FITC-PAC1). We also measured platelet-bound fibrinogen with an antifibrinogen monoclonal antibody (FITC-9F9) as well as platelet aggregation in whole blood. In blood anticoagulated with citrate and in the presence of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, epinephrine (0.1 to 100 mumol/L) caused significant FITC-PAC1 binding (P less than .001) that was maximal at 10 mumol/L epinephrine. The maximal epinephrine response was one third of that observed with 10 mumol/L adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and was eliminated by yohimbine, an alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist. Incubation of the blood with apyrase or phosphoenolpyruvate plus pyruvate kinase to remove extracellular ADP resulted in a 40% to 50% reduction in the epinephrine response. Despite this, FITC-PAC1 binding was still significant at epinephrine greater than or equal to 1 mumol/L (P less than .05). No reduction in epinephrine-induced FITC- PAC1 binding was observed in the presence of ATP alpha S, an ADP receptor antagonist; cinanserin, a serotonin antagonist; or WEB-2086, a platelet activating factor antagonist. Furthermore, addition of the thrombin inhibitors hirudin or leupeptin to citrated blood had no effect on the extent of the epinephrine response. Blood anticoagulated with hirudin also demonstrated an epinephrine response, even in the presence of apyrase. Similar results were obtained when FITC-9F9 was used to detect fibrinogen binding or when aggregation was assessed by a decrease in the number of single platelets. We conclude that epinephrine itself can induce fibrinogen receptor exposure, fibrinogen binding, and aggregation. This primary response is independent of synergistic interaction of epinephrine with traces of ADP, serotonin, platelet activating factor, or thrombin. However, such synergistic interaction with ADP present in whole blood may enhance the responses induced by epinephrine.
Hepatitis B virus DNA in the serum of Sardinian blood donors negative for the hepatitis B surface antigen
Authors: Lai ME , Farci P , Figus A , Balestrieri A , Arnone M , Vyas GN
Published: October 2019

The high endemicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and liver disease in Sardinia led us to assess the occurrence of HBV DNA in 1,411 sera of two selected groups of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)- negative blood donors: 793 with abnormal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and 618 with normal serum ALT values (determined during routine testing of their blood donation). HBV DNA sequences were detected by dot-blot hybridization in 68 of 793 subjects (9%) with abnormal ALT but only in three of 618 subjects (0.5%) with normal ALT. HBV-core antibody (anti-HBc) was detected in 338 of 793 subjects (43%) with abnormal ALT as well as in 125 of 618 subjects (20.2%) with normal ALT. Among the 71 subjects positive for serum HBV DNA, 22 (31%) were positive for anti- HBc, while 49 (69%) were negative for all serologic markers of HBV infection. Thus, a high frequency of anti-HBc in apparently healthy HBsAg-negative individuals and a high prevalence of serum HBV DNA in the absence of immunologic markers of HBV infection suggest the existence of genetic variants of HBV that may be responsible for some of the presumed NANB hepatitis encountered in Sardinia and possibly other areas of high endemicity for HBV.
Studies of in vitro activated CD5+ B cells
Authors: Freedman AS , Freeman G , Whitman J , Segil J , Daley J , Nadler LM
Published: October 2019

Human B lymphocytes undergo distinct phenotypic changes following activation with antigen and polyclonal mitogens. Increasing interest has focused on the unique subpopulation of B cells that expresses the CD5 antigen. In this study, we examined the signals that induce the expression of CD5 on normal splenic B cells. Only 12-O- tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induced CD5 expression on highly purified splenic B cells, whereas anti-immunoglobulin (anti-Ig), Epstein-Barr virus, anti-CD20, recombinant interleukin-1 (rIL-1), rIL- 2, rIL-4, recombinant interferon-gamma (rINF-gamma), and B-cell growth factor all failed to induce CD5 expression. The expression of CD5 was detected on the cell surface by 48 hours and decreased by 96 hours. Dual-fluorochrome analysis demonstrated that the CD5+ B cells coexpressed the B-cell activation antigens B5, IL-2 receptor, and CD23, thereby providing phenotypic evidence that this B-cell subpopulation is activated. In vitro studies of dual-fluorochrome-sorted, TPA-stimulated splenic B cells demonstrated significantly greater tritiated thymidine incorporation and Ig secretion by the CD20+ CD5- cells than by the CD20+ CD5+ subset. These phenotypic and functional studies are consistent with the notion that TPA-induced CD5+ B cells are a subset of in vitro activated B lymphocytes.
Characterization of a novel form of transferrin receptor preferentially expressed on normal erythroid progenitors and precursors
Authors: Cotner T , Gupta AD , Papayannopoulou T , Stamatoyannopoulos G
Published: October 2019

A panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against cell surface proteins of early BFUe progeny was characterized. Five of these antibodies (Abs) reacted with normal erythroid, but not myeloid, bone marrow cells. Each of the five antibodies, typified by Ab 69.20, immunoprecipitated a dimeric complex of 185,000, which is composed of two identical disulfide-bonded subunits. This antigen had affinity for transferrin, and was essentially identical in biochemical characteristics to transferrin receptors precipitated with the well-characterized MoAbs OKT9 and 5E9. However, this form of transferrin receptor lacked both the OKT9 and 5E9 antigenic determinants and, moreover, the 69.20 epitope was absent from the conventional transferrin receptor, as defined by Abs OKT9 and 5E9. Modulation experiments demonstrated that both 69.20 and OKT9 modulated large, virtually independent populations of transferrin receptors. Both forms of transferrin receptor appeared to be derived from the product of a single gene, but the form defined by MoAb 69.20 apparently predominates in cells of the erythroid lineage and some transformed cell types that manifest a special requirement for iron. These data suggest that cells with a high iron requirement synthesize two forms of transferrin receptor, possibly by means of differential mRNA splicing or by posttranslational modification of the transferrin receptor.
In vivo cell growth and pharmacologic determinants of clinical response in acute myelogenous leukemia
Authors: Karp JE , Donehower RC , Enterline JP , Dole GB , Fox MG , Burke PJ
Published: October 2019

A predictable increase in the proliferative rate of malignant cells remaining after initial cytoreduction in vivo forms the rationale for timed sequential therapy (TST) with 1-B-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara- C) for adult acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The relationship between in vivo leukemic cell growth, intracellular ara-C metabolism, and clinical response to ara-C-containing TST was evaluated by comparing AML marrow cell growth kinetic and biochemical pharmacologic determinants obtained before therapy (day 0) and at the predicted peak of in vivo postdrug residual tumor proliferation (day 8). Serial measurements of DNA synthesis and net intracellular ara-C metabolism demonstrated marked increases in both determinants in day 8 residual tumor when compared with the pretreatment cells for newly diagnosed adults achieving complete remission but not for TST-refractory patients. The interrelationship of AML cell proliferation and biochemical pharmacology together quantitate cytotoxicity measured by both achievement and duration of remission and serve to predict eventual clinical outcome in response to TST with ara-C where both growth and favorable pharmacokinetics are intrinsic to the success of the drug schedule.
Aberrant restriction endonuclease digests of DNA from subjects with hereditary myeloperoxidase deficiency
Authors: Nauseef WM
Published: October 2019

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a critical component in the oxygen-dependent microbicidal activity of neutrophils. Hereditary deficiency of MPO occurs commonly, but its genetic basis has not been determined. Previously we have reported the presence of an 89-kilodalton protein, likely pro-MPO, in normal and MPO-deficient neutrophils and hypothesized that the absence of peroxidase activity in neutrophils from affected subjects was the result of defective posttranslational processing of pro-MPO. In this study we analyzed nucleic acids from three completely and two partially MPO-deficient individuals by using a cDNA probe for MPO. The affected individuals studied are unrelated to one another. Neutrophils from all affected subjects lacked mature MPO subunits; however, a monospecific antibody for MPO identified in these cells a high-molecular weight protein that is the same size as pro-MPO. Northern blots demonstrated that the amount and size of RNA (3.3 kilobases [kb]) in a completely deficient subject was normal. BglII digests of genomic DNA from control individuals (n = 14) contained three fragments that hybridized with cDNA for MPO under very stringent conditions. In contrast, BglII digests of genomic DNA from completely MPO-deficient individuals contained an extra fragment of 2.1 kb that was not present in DNA from controls. In addition, two different endonuclease digest patterns were found in MPO-deficient subjects who were biochemically and phenotypically identical. We conclude from these studies that (a) hereditary MPO deficiency is not associated with a major deletion or rearrangement of the MPO gene; (b) myeloid precursors in an MPO-deficient individual contain normal amounts of an mRNA that is the same size as that for MPO in normal individuals; and (c) the genetic basis for MPO deficiency may be heterogeneous, with at least two genotypes generating the same phenotype. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the genetic defect in MPO deficiency results in synthesis of a modified pro-MPO that undergoes defective posttranslational processing.
Respiratory burst oxidase activation can be dissociated from phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate degradation in a cell-free system from human neutrophils
Authors: Traynor AE , Scott PJ , Harris AL , Badwey JA , Sklar LA , Babior BM , Curnutte JT
Published: October 2019

Activation of the respiratory burst oxidase in cell-free preparations from 32P-labeled neutrophils was compared with changes in levels of radioactively labeled phosphoinositides in the same preparations. With membrane particles, treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the presence of cytosol led to activation of the oxidase without an alteration in levels of labeled phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) or phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP). Conversely, solubilization of the membrane particles with deoxycholate resulted in loss of nearly 98% of the radioactive PIP2 without activation of the oxidase. In this solubilized preparation, the oxidase could subsequently be fully activated by SDS in the presence of cytosol, even though the labeled PIP2 was almost totally depleted. Two PIP2-derived second messengers, diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, as well as the protein kinase C activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), failed to activate the oxidase. These results suggest that in a cell- free preparation from human neutrophils, detergent-mediated activation of the respiratory burst oxidase is independent of changes in the levels of phosphoinositides or phosphoinositide-derived second messengers.
Elevated glutathione accelerates oxidative damage to erythrocytes produced by aromatic disulfide
Authors: Maede Y , Kuwabara M , Sasaki A , Inaba M , Hiraoka W
Published: October 2019

It has been shown that certain dogs have erythrocytes characterized by an inherited high concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH), five to seven times the normal level (high-GSH RBCs). We examined whether increased GSH in dog erythrocytes leads to increased protection against oxidative damage induced by acetylphenylhydrazine (APH) and/or 4- aminophenyl disulfide (4-AD). When erythrocytes were incubated with 30 mmol/L APH, the Heinz body count was appreciably higher in normal RBCs than in high-GSH RBCs, while there was no difference in the increase of the methemoglobin (metHb) concentration in both RBCs. In contrast, both the Heinz body count and metHb production were much higher in high-GSH RBCs than in normal RBCs when erythrocytes were incubated with 4-AD. Furthermore, the generation of the superoxide in erythrocytes treated with 4-AD, which was measured by spin trapping combined with electron spin resonance (ESR), was obviously higher in high-GSH RBCs than in normal RBCs. These results clearly indicate that erythrocyte GSH is an important defense against oxidative damage induced by certain compounds such as APH, but that, in contrast, elevated GSH appears to accelerate oxidative damage to erythrocytes produced by aromatic disulfides, such as 4-AD, which generated a superoxide in erythrocytes via its redox reaction with GSH.
An A gamma type of nondeletional hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin with a T----C mutation at position -175 to the cap site of the A gamma globin gene
Authors: Stoming TA , Stoming GS , Lanclos KD , Fei YJ , Altay C , Kutlar F , Huisman TH
Published: October 2019

The nondeletional types of hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (ndHPFH) concern the continued synthesis of hemoglobin (Hb) F with either G gamma or A gamma chains in amounts varying from 5% to 30%. Several mutations have been identified in either the A gamma or G gamma promoter which are considered causative to the continued production of one of the two gamma chains because the substitutions occur in sequence motifs essential for the expression characteristics of the gamma-globin gene in the 3′ position. We report the discovery of a T----C mutation at position -175 in the A gamma promoter which was associated with a greatly increased level of Hb F (with mainly A gamma) and a decreased level of Hb A in the one (Black) heterozygote who had a beta c gene in trans. The same mutation has been observed in the G gamma promoter of a Black heterozygote who had high levels of Hb F with G gamma chains only. A detailed comparison between these two individuals indicated significant differences in the levels of Hb F and Hb A which may result from an additional mutation at position -158 in the G gamma promoter.
Catalase and glutathione peroxidase are equally active in detoxification of hydrogen peroxide in human erythrocytes
Authors: Gaetani GF , Galiano S , Canepa L , Ferraris AM , Kirkman HN
Published: October 2019

Genetic deficiencies of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and NADPH predispose affected erythrocytes to destruction from peroxides. Conversely, genetic deficiencies of catalase do not predispose affected erythrocytes to peroxide-induced destruction. These observations have served to strengthen the assumption that the NADPH/glutathione/glutathione peroxidase pathway is the principal means for disposal of H2O2 in human erythrocytes. Recently, however, mammalian catalase was found to have tightly bound NADPH and to require NADPH for the prevention and reversal of inactivation by its toxic substrate (H2O2). Since both catalase and the glutathione pathway are dependent on NADPH for function, this finding raises the possibility that both mechanisms destroy H2O2 in human erythrocytes. A comparison of normal and acatalasemic erythrocytes in the present study indicated that catalase accounts for more than half of the destruction of H2O2 when H2O2 is generated at a rate comparable to that which leads to hemolysis in G6PD- deficient erythrocytes.
Toward comprehensive management tailored to prognostic factors of patients with clinical stages I and II in Hodgkin's disease. The EORTC Lymphoma Group controlled clinical trials: 1964-1987
Authors: Tubiana M , Henry-Amar M , Carde P , Burgers JM , Hayat M , Van der Schueren E , Noordijk EM , Tanguy A , Meerwaldt JH , Thomas J
Published: October 2019

From 1964 to 1987, the EORTC Lymphoma Group conducted four consecutive controlled clinical trials on clinical stages I and II Hodgkin's disease in which 1,579 patients were entered. From the onset the main aim of these trials was to identify the subsets of patients who could be treated safely by regional radiotherapy (RT). Therefore, several prognostic indicators were prospectively registered and progressively used in the trial protocols for the delineation of the favorable and unfavorable subgroups as soon as they were recognized of high predictive value. In the H2 trial (1972 to 1976), the histologic subtype was the only variable taken into account for the therapeutic strategy and the staging laparotomy findings were found to be of prognostic value only in patients with favorable prognostic indicators. In the H5 trial (1977 to 1982), patients were subdivided into two subgroups according to six prognostic indicators. Patients with favorable features were submitted to a staging laparotomy (lap); lap negative patients were randomized between mantle field RT and mantle field plus paraaortic RT. Disease free survival (DFS) and total survival (S) were similar in the two arms. Among patients with unfavorable features, DFS and S were significantly higher in the arm treated by combination of mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone (MOPP) chemotherapy (CT) and RT than in the arm treated by total nodal irradiation. Nevertheless, in patients below the age of 40, the overall survival rates were equivalent in the two arms. In the H6 trial, the delineation of the favorable subgroup was based on (a) absence of systemic symptoms and elevated ESR, (b) no more than one or two lymph node areas involved. The aim of the study was to assess the impact on survival of a therapeutic strategy including staging laparotomy. At a 4-year follow-up, no difference in survival was evidenced. In patients with unfavorable prognostic indicators, 3 MOPP- RT-3 MOPP were compared with 3 ABVD-RT-3 ABVD. From H1 to H5 trials, the proportion of patients having received CT during the course of the disease gradually decreased; the data suggest that a further reduction in the proportion of patients aggressively treated is conceptually possible. On the basis of the prognostic factors identified, one can delineate three subsets of patients and modulate toxic cost of the initial treatment according to the characteristics of these subsets. In the most favorable subgroup, RT alone produces high survival and CT is not justified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Ultraviolet B light inactivates bone marrow T lymphocytes but spares hematopoietic precursor cells
Authors: Deeg HJ , Bazar L , Sigaroudinia M , Cottler-Fox M
Published: October 2019

Bone marrow cells from ten normal donors were exposed to ultraviolet (UV)C or UVB light for total exposures of 0.1 to 100 mJ/cm2, and assayed for granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM), erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E), and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)- stimulated proliferative responses. After exposure to UVC CFU-GM, BFU-E and PHA responses showed a UV dose-dependent sharp decrease to levels less than 1% of controls with 0.5, 2.0, and 10 mJ/cm2, respectively. With UVB, PHA responses were most sensitive, declining to less than 1% at 5 mJ/cm2. BFU-E decreased to less than 1% of control with 15 mJ/cm2 UVB. CFU-GM, at UVB doses of 0.1 to 2.0 mJ/cm2, increased to 125% to 130% of control and decreased to less than 1% only at exposures greater than 20 mJ/cm2. Thus, these studies show that UVB, but not UVC light, can be used to inactivate bone marrow T lymphocytes selectively while sparing hematopoietic precursor cells. The data suggest that UVB irradiation can be used for T-lymphocyte purging for allogeneic marrow transplantation.
Rapid prenatal diagnosis of beta thalassemia using DNA amplification and nonradioactive probes
Authors: Cai SP , Chang CA , Zhang JZ , Saiki RK , Erlich HA , Kan YW
Published: October 2019

We used in vitro DNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction and nonradioactive probes for prenatal diagnosis of beta thalassemia in Chinese from the Guangdong province. Exact molecular diagnoses were made in all 20 fetuses studied over a 6-month period. We conclude that this method of prenatal diagnosis for beta thalassemia is a viable approach in many parts of the world where this disease is common.
International Fanconi Anemia Registry: relation of clinical symptoms to diepoxybutane sensitivity
Authors: Auerbach AD , Rogatko A , Schroeder-Kurth TM
Published: October 2019

Fanconi anemia (FA) is characterized clinically by a progressive pancytopenia, diverse congenital abnormalities and increased predisposition to malignancy. Although a variable phenotype makes accurate diagnosis on the basis of clinical manifestations difficult in some patients, study of cellular sensitivity to the clastogenic effect of DNA cross-linking agents such as diepoxybutane (DEB) has been used to facilitate the diagnosis. Data from DEB-induced chromosomal breakage studies of 328 peripheral blood specimens from patients considered at risk for FA were analyzed using a stepwise multivariate logistic regression, in order to determine which method of representing the data best discriminated between DEB-sensitive (DEB+) and DEB-insensitive (DEB-) cases. Similar methods were applied to the data from the International Fanconi Anemia Registry (IFAR) to determine whether DEB+ and DEB- cases may be considered as distinct clinical entities, and if so, which variables provide the best discrimination between the two groups. We conclude that hypersensitivity to the clastogenic effect of DEB is a useful discriminator for FA. A simplified scoring method for classifying patients on the basis of eight clinical manifestations that are the best predictors for FA is presented. Our data indicate that the clinical diversity in FA is more widespread than previously recognized.
Interleukin-3, GM-CSF, and TPA induce distinct phosphorylation events in an interleukin 3-dependent multipotential cell line
Authors: Sorensen PH , Mui AL , Murthy SC , Krystal G
Published: October 2019

The mechanism of action of the hemopoietic growth factor, murine interleukin-3 (mIL-3), was investigated using an mIL-3-dependent multipotential hematopoietic cell line, B6SUtA1. Murine granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor (mGM-CSF) was as potent as mIL-3 in stimulating these cells. In addition, sodium orthovanadate, an inhibitor of phosphotyrosine phosphatase, and 12-O-tetradecanoyl- phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a known activator of protein kinase C, also stimulated DNA synthesis in these cells, suggesting that protein phosphorylation might be involved in the mechanism of action of mIL-3 and mGM-CSF. To assess this possibility, intact B6SUtA1 cells exposed for brief periods to mIL-3, mGM-CSF, and TPA were analyzed for changes in phosphorylation patterns using metabolic 32P-labeling and antibodies to phosphotyrosine. Both mIL-3 and mGM-CSF induced the serine-specific phosphorylation of a 68-Kd cytosolic protein, whereas all three agents stimulated the serine-specific phosphorylation of a 68-Kd membrane protein. Furthermore, mIL-3 stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the 68-Kd membrane protein, as well as of 140-, 90-, 55, and 40-Kd proteins. The 90-Kd protein was also tyrosine phosphorylated in response to mGM-CSF. These phosphotyrosine containing proteins were not detected in TPA-treated cells. These results indicate that protein phosphorylations on tyrosine and serine residues occur in B6SUtA1 cells following short-term incubation with mIL-3 or mGM-CSF and that most of these phosphorylation events are mediated by kinases other than protein kinase C (PkC).