Intracellular signal transduction for interleukin-1 beta-induced endothelin production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

The authors investigated the intracellular signal transduction for interleukin (IL)-1 beta-induced endothelin (ET) production by endothelial cells from cultured human umbilical vein (HUVEC). Cultured HUVEC released immunoreactive (iR)-ET into the media in a time-dependent manner and a significant increase of iR-ET production was observed by the addition of IL-1 beta. The stimulating effect of IL-1 beta on iR-ET production was respectively inhibited by protein kinase C (C kinase) inhibitor (H-7), Ca-calmodulin inhibitor (W-7), cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (A kinase) inhibitor (H-8) and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistain) in a dose-dependent fashion. The data suggested that intracellular signal transduction for IL-1 beta-induced iR-ET production were via such pathways as C kinase, A kinase, Ca-calmodulin and tyrosine kinase in combination or independently, though possible mediation by other pathways cannot be ruled out.

The weak calcemic vitamin D3 analogue 22-oxacalcitriol suppresses the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by peripheral mononuclear cells.

The effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) and its analogue 22-oxacalcitriol (OCT), which was reported to have very weak bone resorbing activity, on the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was investigated. Mononuclear cells (MNC; 10(6)/ml) were incubated in 5% FCS/RPMI-1640 medium containing 1 microgram/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence or absence of 10(-8) M 1,25(OH)2D3 or 10(-8) M OCT for up to 96 h. Both 1,25(OH)2D3 and OCT suppressed TNF-alpha release by LPS-stimulated mononuclear cells, from the early to late stage of the incubation period, while neither 1,25(OH)2D3 nor OCT shifted the peak time point of TNF-alpha release clearly. MNC (10(6)/ml) were incubated with 1 microgram of LPS in the presence of various concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 or 10(-8) M OCT for 48 h. 1,25(OH)2D3 reduced TNF-alpha levels of LPS-stimulated MNC culture supernatant at 48 h in a dose-dependent manner. The half-maximal dose (ED50) for this suppressive effect was 3.7 x 10(-9) M. OCT decreased TNF-alpha levels of culture supernatant at 48 h with a half-maximal dose of 7.8 x 10(-11) M, which indicates that it is approximately 50 times more potent than that of 1,25(OH)2D3. These results indicate that OCT may be applicable as an immunosuppressive agent with limited calcium metabolic activity.

[Spontaneous remission in a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

A 59-year-old-male was admitted in September 1984 with fever and right hypochondrial pain. On computed tomography, a bulky retroperitoneal tumor involving the intestine was detected. Exploratory laparatomy yielded a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Although intensive and aggressive treatment combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy was administered, no conclusion could be drawn about its efficiency, and no remission was indicated by followup studies. He refused further treatment because of bone marrow depression. However, 9 months after the last treatment disappearance of the tumor was recognized on computed tomography examination. This phenomenon was confirmed by the second laparatomy performed in order to treat skin-colon fistula caused from diverticulitis of the colon. It was recognized no evidence of malignant lymphoma in the resected colon specimen. He remains in excellent health 26 months after this events. The clinical course of this case was probably compatible with the concept of spontaneous remission of malignant lymphoma.