One-pot synthesis of helical aromatics: stereoselectivity, stability against racemization, and assignment of absolute configuration assisted by experimental and theoretical circular dichroism.

Helical aromatics (1) were synthesized via one step in good quantity by solvent-free condensation of N,N'-p-phenylenediamine (2) and various carboxylic acids in the presence of a Lewis acid. Microwave irradiation greatly facilitated the condensation reaction to furnish 1 with a 100% diastereo- and a 50% enantioselectivity, when a chiral carboxylic acid was utilized. 1f, derived from 2-methylglutaric acid, was quite stable, no racemization taking place even at 200 degrees C. The assignment of the absolute configurations to the helical aromatics has been achieved by experimental and theoretical CD spectra calculated by time-dependent density functional theory.

Modulation of IgD and CD20 by ligation of CD5 on tonsillar B cells.

The CD5 molecule, pan T cell marker, has been known to be expressed on a minor population of B cells, termed B-1 cells. However, the physiological function and pathological role of CD5+B (B-1) cells remain to be fully elucidated in humans. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the significance of CD5 expression on the B lymphocytes in human tonsil. Using flow cytometric analysis by three-colour immunofluorescence staining, we observed a majority of the cell surface CD5-positive (sCD5+) B cells among the sIgD+ B-cell population, as previously described. Contrary to our expectation, approximately half of the sIgD+/sCD5+ B cells expressed CD38 on their cell surface. Furthermore, a small number of sCD5+ were observed in the sIgD- B cell population. The addition of anti-CD5 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to the culture induced downmodulation of sCD20 and sIgD of the tonsillar B cells, resulting in an increase of sCD38-/sIgD- (memory) B cells during the 10 day culture periods in the CD40/l cell culture system. Our findings suggest that ligation of CD5 might transduce the signal to regulate B cell maturation.

Differential endocytotic characteristics of a novel human B/DC cell line HBM-Noda: effective macropinocytic and phagocytic function rather than scavenging function.

In order to characterize a novel human B cell-lineage dendritic cell line (B/DC line) as an antigen-presenting cell (APC), we compared three types of endocytosis (micropinocytosis via a clathrin-coated pit, macropinocytosis via membrane ruffling, and phagocytosis) among myeloid-related, macrophage (Mphi) cell lines and a B/DC line. In the present examination, we used a unique human dendritic cell (DC) line, HBM-Noda (Noda). Flow cytometric and immunocytochemical analyses revealed that Noda not only expresses some DC markers, but also it expresses some B-cell associated markers. Noda shows strong capacities to stimulate allogenic T cells, to produce immunoglobulin G (IgG), and to perform immunoglobulin gene rearrangement. These data strongly suggest that Noda is a B-cell lineage DC line. The endocytic differences among these cell lines were as follows. (1) The level of micropinocytosis of Noda was significantly less than that of conventional human Mphi cell lines, and the formation of a clathrin-coated pit was not observed in Noda. (2) The level of macropinocytosis of Noda was also smaller than that of conventional Mphi cells indicating that the active membrane ruffling of Noda induces rapid recycling. (3) Phagocytosis of opsonized sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was performed more efficiently in Noda than in other Mphi cell lines. Collectively, these data suggest that in human bone marrow cells, we can identify a unique DC subtype, B/DC line, which develops through a lymphoid DC-differentiation pathway, and DC in this lineage plays an important role in the host immune response because of its effective uptake of a variety of size of antigens by using the skillful membrane ruffling and surface receptors

A human B-lineage dendritic cell line, HBM-noda and its potential role in human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I infection.

An Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line, HBM-Noda (Noda), that has a dendritic morphology as well as several characteristic features of dendritic cells (DC) has been established. We therefore refer to Noda as B-lineage DC. Although human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I (HTLV-I) exhibit substantial cellular tropism, the roles of DC in HTLV-I infection remain unknown. To further clarify the characteristics of Noda cells, we performed infection experiments using a concentrated HTLV-I fraction from the adult T-cell leukemia cell line, HPB-ATL-2. Noda, as well as other cell lines examined, were sensitive to HTLV-I infection as detected by proviral DNA using polymerase chain reaction, but most infected Noda cells underwent necrosis within 7 days. The most striking feature of Noda cells was the abundant expression of viral antigen (p19) on the cell surface following infection (approximately day 4), probably due to strong viral adsorption. In cocultivation experiments using Noda cells at day 1 of post-infection and peripheral blood activated T cells, we detected a few (1.3%) viral antigen expressing T cells after 5 days of coculture by flow cytometry. These results suggest that B-lineage DC such as Noda cells play a role in the establishment of HTLV-I infection at an early phase.

Constitutive expression of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor receptor on a human B-lymphoblastoid cell line.

The present study demonstrated that a human B-cell line derived from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. HCF-MLpN. constitutively expressed G-CSF receptor on the cell surface. G-CSF binding to the cell surface was shown by immunofluorescence staining using biotinylated G-CSF preparation and analysed by flow cytometry. Specific binding of G-CSF to the cells was shown by pretreatment with unlabelled G-CSF. In the radioreceptor assay and Scatchard plot analysis using radiolabelled ligand, MLpN cells revealed a single species of binding site with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 167 (153-182) pM and a maximal binding site per cell of 1076 (1044-1116). The G-CSF receptor mRNA transcript was exhibited in the RNA from MLpN cells by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction procedure. [3H]thymidine incorporation and trypan blue exclusion showed that the G-CSF receptor was capable of transducing the growth signal to HCF-MLpN cells. A small fraction of fresh B blasts from six patients with B-cell lymphoma and leukaemia displayed G-CSF binding by two-colour immunofluorescence staining. In contrast, a panel of seven B-cell lines was negative for the binding to biotinylated G-CSF preparation. These results suggest that the phenotype of G-CSF binding may be lost during the culture. The expression of G-CSF receptor in HCF-MLpN cells appeared to be exceptional.

An autopsy case of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) with preceding aplastic anemia.

A case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with preceding aplastic anemia is reported. The patient was a 36 year old female who had been diagnosed as having aplastic anemia 10 years before and thereafter had received multiple transfusions. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositivity was revealed 10 months prior to her death, but no particular clinical signs indicating HIV infection, pre-AIDS or onset of AIDS were recognized before serological diagnosis, although the slow progression of leukopenia was noted along with thrombocytopenia. Her general condition deteriorated during the last 10 months accompanied by an acute decrease in the CD4/CD8 ratio. Autopsy revealed full-blown AIDS: systemic aspergillosis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, Epstein-Barr virus-related B cell lymphoma arising in the diaphragm and severe lymphocyte depletion in the lymph nodes and spleen. Markedly hypoplastic bone marrow was considered to be primarily attributable to the aplastic anemia but the affection of AIDS was not excluded. The possible transmission route of HIV and the effect of the preceding aplastic anemia on the infection and clinical course of AIDS are discussed.

Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: three autopsy cases of the panencephalopathic type.

Three autopsy cases of panencephalopathic type of familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) were investigated. Cases 1 (51-year-old male) and 3 (54-year-old female) were siblings and Case 2 (68-year-old female) was their aunt. In cases 1 and 3, the age of onset (Case 1:51, Case 3:53), duration of illness (Case 1:9 months, Case 3:8 months) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (pyramidal and extrapyramidal tracts involvements, blindness and dementia in chronological order) were similar, but in Case 2, the onset was later (66 years old), duration was longer (32 months) and the initial symptom was dementia. Myoclonus and apallic state in the terminal stage were common to all 3 cases. Neuropathologically, all 3 cases had characteristics that indicated panencephalopathic type of CJD. Cases 1 and 3 had similar neuropathological findings with characteristic circumscribed necrotic foci in the subcortical white matter. In Case 2 in contrast, diffuse demyelination and fibrillary gliosis in the cerebral white matter were observed without circumscribed necrotic foci. In the cerebellum of Case 3, granular cell loss was very slight. The other lesions in the cerebral cortex and striatum of the 3 cases were common. In conclusion, the clinical symptoms and neuropathological findings of our familial CJD cases were different from one another.

Neuro-Behçet disease with demyelination and gliosis of the frontal white matter.

A rare case of neuro-Behçet disease with diffuse demyelination and gliosis of the frontal white matter is reported clinico-pathologically. The disease began with genital ulcer and recurrent oral aphthosis when the patient was 42 years of age. There was erythema, moderate fever, CSF (cerebrospinal fluid)-pleocytosis and elevated CSF-globulin. He was diagnosed as having neuro-Behçet disease and treated with prednisolone. He gradually became euphoric, disinhibited, indifferent and demented. His cranial CT showed diffuse low density areas in the bilateral frontal white matter. He became bedridden, akinetic mute and died from respiratory dysfunction 3 1/2 years after onset. The following neuropathological findings were observed: 1) Moderate demyelination and gliosis was present mainly in the frontal and parietal white matter. 2) There were many micro-spongious necrotic foci in the gray and white matters of the cerebrum, basal ganglia, thalamus, midbrain and pons, some of which were accompanied by gliosis. 3) From 1/2 to 1/3 of all micro-necrotic foci in the frontal white matter were old and accompanied by gliosis. The white matter containing numerous micro-necrotic foci had myelin pallor and gliosis. 4) There was neither micro-necrosis nor gliosis in the occipital lobe. The pathogenetic correlation of white matter lesions with primary and secondary circulatory disturbances is discussed.

Two distinct types of cellular mechanisms in the development of delayed hypersensitivity in mice: requirement of either mast cells or macrophages for elicitation of the response.

Using mast cell-deficient mutant W/Wv mice and their normal counterpart we re-evaluated the significance of participation of mast cells in allergic inflammatory response. W/Wv mice developed immediate hypersensitivity (IH) footpad reaction (FPR) to a somewhat lesser degree than the normal mice, suggesting that the mast cell might amplify the response. To exert classical tuberculin (tbc) delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) mast cells were not an essential cellular component. Vasoactive amines were essential to develop the response, but it did not necessarily originate from mast cells. When mice were immunized with methylated human serum albumin (MHSA) emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA), mast cells were required to elicit DTH FPR. This was confirmed by the lack of the response in W/Wv mice, and the restoration of FPR by local transplantation of mature mast cells into mutant mice. This mast cell-dependent (MD) DTH was different from tbc DTH as follows: mast cell dependency, macrophage dependency as revealed by ferritin sensitivity, kinetics of sensitization, effect of host's age and histopathology. Thus we concluded that there are two types of DTH in mice; one is macrophage-dependent tbc and the other is mast cell-dependent DTH. The correspondence of the DTH to the Jones-Mote (JM) DTH is discussed, although the dominance of mast cells in MD DTH lesion was not observed.

[Pharmacokinetics and clinical evaluations on aztreonam in perinatal infections in obstetrics and gynecology. A study of aztreonam in the perinatal co-research group].

Pharmacokinetics and clinical studies on an injectable monobactam antibiotic aztreonam (AZT), were carried out in perinatal infections in obstetrics and gynecology and the obtained results are summarized as follows. 1. Pharmacokinetic study (1) Upon one-shot intravenous injection of AZT 1 g before delivery, maternal serum concentration of AZT was 89.0 micrograms/ml immediately after the injection and a half-life (T 1/2) of 0.96 hour was observed. Umbilical-cord serum concentration showed a peak value of 16.5 micrograms/ml at 1.26 hours after the injection and gradually decreased with a T 1/2 of 1.91 hours. The transfer into amniotic fluid was observed and the peak value of AZT in amniotic fluid reached 12.9 micrograms/ml at 5.57 hours after the injection and slowly decreased thereafter with a T 1/2 of 4.42 hours. Transfer and disappearance in one-shot 2 g intravenous injection and 1 g intravenous drip infusion (1 hour) of AZT were very similar to the results obtained with the one-shot 1 g intravenous injection. (2) The residual serum concentration in neonates after one-shot 1 g intravenous injection of AZT to the mother was almost below the detectable limit. Transfer of AZT into milk was scarcely recognized. 2. Clinical studies (1) AZT was injected to 47 cases with various perinatal infections and it was more than "effective" in 45 cases with an efficacy rate of 95.7%. Also, all the 12 cases to which AZT was administered for prophylaxis of infections showed prophylactic effect. Bacterial eradication was obtained with 25 strains out of 29 aerobic Gram-negative bacteria, but 1 strain "persisted" and for 3 strains results were "unknown", hence an eradication rate of 96.2% was obtained. However, AZT treatment resulted in a little lower eradication rate against Gram-positive bacteria. (2) One case (1.3%) of minor degree of urticaria was found as a side effect, and one case each of eosinophilia and elevation of GOT, GPT and Al-P was observed as abnormal laboratory value. From the above results of pharmacokinetics and clinical evaluation, it has been concluded that AZT is a useful and highly safe drug in various perinatal infections and prophylaxis.

Ferritin selectively suppresses delayed-type hypersensitivity responses at induction or effector phase.

The effect of ferritin on the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response and Arthus-type reaction as assessed by footpad reaction using methylated human serum albumin, human serum albumin, or sheep red blood cells as antigens was investigated. Intraperitoneally administered ferritin was short acting and suppressed either induction or expression of DTH depending on the time of ferritin injection although it did not inhibit the antibody-mediated inflammatory response, the Arthus reaction. Investigation of ferritin's effect on the primary antibody response revealed that the number of IgG plaque-forming cells (PFC) was moderately decreased but IgM PFC were not. These results indicate that the afferent limb, ferritin selectively suppresses antigen presentation and/or clonal expansion of effector cells of cell-mediated immunity, but not that of the antibody response. Antigen presentation by Ia-positive cells and/or lymphokine-responsive inflammatory mononuclear cells at the efferent limb of DTH is suggested to be affected by ferritin. This conclusion is based upon the observations of successful TDTH effector cell transfer from sensitized but ferritin-treated donors and of successful reversal of ferritin-induced suppression of expression of DTH by supplementing normal bone marrow-derived cells containing Ia-positive ones. Thus our in vivo experimental system might be useful for the differential analysis of immunopathological lesions such as a T-cell-mediated, monocyte-dependent and an antibody-mediated inflammatory lesions.