Lipopolysaccharide-Induced CXCL10 mRNA Level and Six Stimulant-mRNA Combinations in Whole Blood: Novel Biomarkers for Bortezomib Responses Obtained from a Prospective Multicenter Trial for Patients with Multiple Myeloma.

To identify predictive biomarkers for clinical responses to bortezomib treatment, 0.06 mL of each whole blood without any cell separation procedures was stimulated ex vivo using five agents, and eight mRNAs were quantified. In six centers, heparinized peripheral blood was prospectively obtained from 80 previously treated or untreated, symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM) patients with measurable levels of M-proteins. The blood sample was procured prior to treatment as well as 2-3 days and 1-3 weeks after the first dose of bortezomib, which was intravenously administered biweekly or weekly, during the first cycle. Six stimulant-mRNA combinations; that is, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), LPS-CXCL chemokine 10 (CXCL10), LPS-CCL chemokine 4 (CCL4), phytohemagglutinin-CCL4, zymosan A (ZA)-GMCSF and ZA-CCL4 showed significantly higher induction in the complete and very good partial response group than in the stable and progressive disease group, as determined by both parametric (t-test) and non-parametric (unpaired Mann-Whitney test) tests. Moreover, LPS-induced CXCL10 mRNA expression was significantly suppressed 2-3 days after the first dose of bortezomib in all patients, as determined by both parametric (t-test) and non-parametric (paired Wilcoxon test) tests, whereas the complete and very good partial response group showed sustained suppression 1-3 weeks after the first dose. Thus, pretreatment LPS-CXCL10 mRNA and/or the six combinations may serve as potential biomarkers for the response to bortezomib treatment in MM patients.

Pathomechanism of cellular infiltration in the perivascular region of several organs in SAMP1/Yit mouse.

We investigated the histological changes of extra-intestinal organs, such as the liver, kidney, lung and pancreas in SAMP1/Yit mice, a human Crohn's disease model, using immunohistochemical techniques. The perivascular cellular infiltration was detected around the small vessels after 30 weeks. These infiltrating cells consisted of many CD4-positive T-lymphocytes, and small numbers of CD8- positive T-lymphocytes and IgG-positive B-lymphocytes. MAdCAM-1 and VCAM-1 were detected in vascular endothelial cells in non-affected regions of 13 and 20 week-old, as well as in the affected regions showing perivascular cellular infiltration after 30 weeks. In addition, integrin alpha4beta7 was detected on these infiltrating cells in the perivascular regions after 30 week-old. LT-beta and IL-12, cytokines of the Th-1-type immune response, were not observed in these affected regions. However, IL-4, one of the cytokines of the Th-2-type immune response, was detected on the perivascular infiltrating cells after 30 week-old. These results revealed that the changes in extra-intestinal organs were mainly caused by infiltration of CD4-positive T-lymphocytes into the perivascular regions in SAMP1/Yit mice. These cellular infiltrations were thought to be initiated by adhesion of CD4-positive T-lymphocytes to the endothelial cells mediated by MAdCAM-1 and integrin beta7. Immunohistochemistry for Th related cytokines indicated that the perivascular cellular infiltration was developed by the Th-2-type immune response in the extra-intestinal organs of SAMP1/Yit mouse.

The time course of lymph drainage from the peritoneal cavity in beagle dogs.

Lymph drainage routes from the abdominal and pelvic cavities in beagle dogs were observed serially by following the time course of India ink administered intraperitoneally. Four systems of lymph drainage routes from the peritoneal cavity were observed in this study. The earliest drainage returned to the cranial mediastinal lymph nodes via the sternal lymph vessels; subsequently, the sternal lymph nodes located along the internal thoracic artery became involved. Then, a drainage route via the lymph vessel along the left vagus nerve was observed. The final drainage route flowed into the lateral lymph vessel through the thoracic duct located on the vertebra. These results show that India ink is absorbed from the peritoneal cavity, and that the lymph drainage first flows mainly towards the cranial mediastinal lymph nodes through the ventral lymphatic channels. Our serial observations suggest that, over time, the lymph drainage routes changed from the ventral abdominal to the dorsal thoracic lymphatic channels in the thorax.