HHV-8 ELISA based on a one-step affinity capture of biotinylated K8.1 antigen.

The immunogenic envelope antigen gp35-37 of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is encoded by orfK8.1. An ELISA is described using streptavidin capture of bacterially expressed and biotinylated recombinant K8.1 antigen. The antigen capture strategy provides a simple and reliable method, which does not require high yield production and purification of the recombinant antigen before the serological assay. The specificity and sensitivity of the K8.1 ELISA were validated by gp35-37 envelope antigen Western blot and anti-lytic membrane immunofluorescence assay using lytically induced HHV-8 infected BCBL-1 cells. Under the established ELISA conditions, eight of the 10 Kaposi's sarcoma patients and five of the 180 healthy blood donors had IgG antibodies to K8.1 envelope antigen.

Involvement of chromosome losses in the progression and metastasis formation of a human malignant melanoma.

To characterize the possible cytogenetic link between a primary tumor and its metastasis, interphase cytogenetic analysis was performed on tumor cells and cutaneous metastasis from a male patient with malignant melanoma by using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The numbers of distinct hybridization domains specific for ten different pericentromeric sequences were used as indicators of copy numbers of these chromosomes. In the primary tumor, the majority of cells had two copies of these chromosomes, but significant numbers of nuclei also were present with one and three copies. In addition, in almost all cells, both sex chromosomes were abnormal; nullisomy of the Y chromosome was associated with X disomy. The corresponding metastatic tumor cells were predominantly monosomic; only the distribution of chromosomes 11 and 7 was similar to the primary tumor. In the metastatic tumor, the sex chromosomes had a normal copy number; that is, one Y and one X were detected. These data indicate that both the initiation and the progression of this melanoma are associated with chromosome losses.

bcl-2 vs p53 protein expression and apoptotic rate in human nonmelanoma skin cancers.

BACKGROUND: A failure in the apoptotic response after severe genomic damage could facilitate cell transformation and tumor development, and a constitutive overexpression of either p53 or bcl-2 protein in nonapoptotic tumor cells could signify a defective bax-mediated apoptosis. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether a negative correlation occurs between these 2 proteins in nonmelanoma skin cancer and whether overexpression of either protein is associated with a low rate of spontaneous apoptosis. DESIGN: Immunohistochemical study of nonmelanoma skin cancer archive material. SETTING: University referral center. PATIENTS: White patients with tumors on sun-exposed skin areas (ie, 17 basal cell carcinomas and 22 squamous cell carcinomas). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Positivity for p53 and bcl-2 were scored semiquantitatively on 4 levels, and the percentages of apoptotic cells were determined. RESULTS: A significant negative correlation between p53 and bcl-2 expression was found in the basal cell carcinomas, but not in the squamous cell carcinomas, largely attributable to the low level of bcl-2 staining in the squamous cell carcinomas. Squamous cell carcinomas have a significantly higher number of apoptotic cells than basal cell carcinomas: 1.1% vs 0.6%, respectively. This spontaneous apoptosis decreases with increasing bcl-2 (in basal cell carcinoma), whereas it does not appear to be related to p53 level expression. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that a disturbance in either p53 or bcl-2 suffices to enhance skin tumor formation by suppressing apoptosis; bcl-2 appears to reduce the rate of spontaneous apoptosis, but an aberrant p53 expression does not, and this factor may solely affect the apoptosis from exogenous genotoxicity.

Erythema Gyratum Repens an Immunological Paraneoplastic Dermatosis.

The authors present a patient with erythema gyratum repens who had a bronchogenic carcinoma. Autoantibodies and complement at the basement membrane zone of the skin was found which suggest that erythema gyratum repens may have an immunological pathogenesis but the nature of the antigen should be further characterised.

Expression of thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) and its receptor (CD36) in healthy and diseased human skin.

In the present study, an analysis was made of the expression pattern of thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) and its receptor (CD36) in skin biopsies obtained from healthy volunteers and from patients with lichen planus, lupus erythematosus, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and psoriasis vulgaris. Using monoclonal antibodies against TSP1 in biopsies from the healthy volunteers and from both clinically involved and uninvolved skin of the patients, a specific peroxidase-positive reaction was detected around the sweat glands in the dermis. In all cases investigated, the CD36-positive lesional keratinocytes remained TSP1-negative. These findings favour the hypothesis that CD36-positive keratinocytes might have some functional relevance via oxidized low-density lipoprotein and/or collagen fibrils, without any connection with TSP1.

Hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita.

Hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita was observed in a female patient with stage IV malignant melanoma and also diffuse melanosis of the skin. The patient died within 2 months after the appearance of HL.

[Melanoma screening in Debrecen]. / Melanoma szürövizsgálatok Debrecenben.

Melanoma screening examination has been organized in Debrecen. The aid of it is the early detection and treatment of melanoma. Different methods (educational pamphlet, postgradual training of GP's, TV, radio) help the work of dermatologists.

[Forme fruste of Hunter's disease]. / Forme fruste eines Morbus Hunter.

We report on a 19-year-old girl with hepatosplenomegaly and possible hematological disease. We suspected Gaucher's disease on account of histological and biochemical evidence found in specimens from the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. 18 months later, pebbled skin developed on her neck and upper back. Histological examination revealed large amounts of mucous material between the collagen bundles deep in the dermis, which proved to be dermatan sulfate. The clinical and histological symptoms are characteristic for Hunter's disease.

A study on cell-mediated immunity in polymorphic light eruption.

Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) can be defined as a delayed abnormal response to sunlight. In this paper some features of the presumable immune response were studied in 55 patients with PLE and the results were compared with the findings available in 58 cases with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). The mean intracutaneous reactivity index measured by skin tests of delayed type was normal in both diseases. The number of the active and total E-rosette-forming peripheral lymphocytes was significantly lower in the active stage of PLE whereas in remission normal values were found. In active PCT only the number of the total E-rosette-forming cells was decreased. The percentage of lymphocytes with so-called dot-like alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase enzyme reaction was reduced significantly in the active stage of PLE whereas in remission their number was normal. Changes observed in PLE seem to be functional and suggest the involvement of T lymphocytes in some phases of the hypersensitive cutaneous reaction induced by sunlight.

Immunopharmacologic properties of WY-16, 922, a new orally effective antiallergic agent.

In a series of tests designed to illustrate immune reactions similar to those obtained in atopic disease, Wy-16,922 effectively inhibited reaginic-mediated immunologic reactions in the skin, lungs and mast cell. It was found to be devoid of immunosuppressant, antimediator, anti-inflammatory, steroid or bronchodilator properties as well as acute toxicity. Although the mechanism of action of Wy-16,922 is unknown, it appears to limit the release (not the effects) of allergic mediators in a manner similar to that described for disodium cromoglycate.

Immunopharmacologic properties of WY-16,922, a new orally effective antiallergic agent.

In a series of tests designed to illustrate immune reactions similar to those obtained in atopic disease, Wy-16,922 effectively inhibited reaginic-mediated immunologic reactions in the skin, longs and mast cell. It was found to be devoid of immunosuppressant, antimediator, anti-inflammatory, steroid or bronchodilator properties as well as acute toxicity. Although the mechanism of action Wy-16,922 is unknown, it appears to limit the release (not the effects) of allergic mediators in a manner similar to that described for disodium cromoglycate.

Oxanilic acids, a new series of orally active antiallergic agents.

A large number of oxanilic acid esters and N-heteroaryl oxamic acid esters were prepared and found to have antiallergic activity using the rat passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) test. Many of the oxanilic acid esters are active orally, with the most active species having an aryl 2'-carbamoyl group and a 3'-methoxy group. Hydrolysis of the ester from the oxanilic ester moiety causes a loss of oral activity.