The bullous pemphigoid (BP) antigen(s) is a normal component of the base-ment membrane zone (BMZ) of skin and other stratified squamous epithelia and is defined by its interaction with autoantibodies present in the sera of patients with BP, as demonstrated by immunofluorescent (IF) techniques. The precise physiological function and the biochemical characterization of the BP antigen remain unclear. BP autoantibodies have been recently shown to be pathogenic in vitro and in vivo. They promote neutrophil recruitment to the BMZ by com-plement activation and reproduce subepithelial vesiculation, the hallmark of the human disease. As a consequence of these findings, the characterization of the BP antigen(s) is crucial in studies dealing with pathogenetic mechanisms operating in the disease.
The localization of the BP antigen has been studied previously, using both immunofluorescence (W) and immunoelectron microscopic techniques (immuno-EM). Using standard indirect IF, employing sera from patients with BP, it is established that BP antibodies bind the BMZ, producing a linear pattern of fluo-rescence on vertical sections of squamous epithelium. Direct and indirect im-muno-EM using immunoperoxidase techniques have shown that BP autoanti-bodies in vitro are deposited within the lamina lucida of the BMZ, in close apposition to the basal cell plasma membrane. This would imply that the BP antigen is located there as well.
We have made a series of experimental observations performed both on intact epidermis and on basal cell suspensions, which show that, contrary to previous assumptions, the majority of the BP antigen is intracellular, closely associated with the basal cell hemidesmosome and only a small portion of it is extracellular in the lamina lucida. In view of these results we must reconsider our concepts of the in situ localization of the BP antigen(s).
Previous immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation studies identified only one antigen (a doublet with an estimated MW of 220 kD to 240 kD). In a recent study we report that a group of 28 BP sera recognize up to 5 different poly-peptide chains in epidermal extracts by immunoblotting procedures, with individual sera recognizing different sets of these polypeptide chains. Therefore, different BP patients may have various sets of autoantibodies that are defined by the antigens with which they react. It will now be essential to determine the relationship of the 5 proteins reactive with BP sera by immunoblotting in epidermal extracts with the structural components of the basal cell hemides-mosome.

View full abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of interleukin 2 (IL-2) on natural killer (NK) cell activity against renal cell carcinoma cell lines, Caki 1 and KU-2, which had been confirmed to be insensitive to NK cells, and against freshly prepared renal carcinoma cells. This study also aims to compare IL-2 induced cytotoxicity, known as lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity, with interferon (IFN)-γ cytotoxicity in vitro, using ⁵¹Cr-release assay technique.
The results showed that IL-2 did enhance the cytotoxicity of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) significantly when incubated with a low concentration of 4IU/ml for 72hr (p<0.01) or when incubated with 100IU/ml for a short time (24hr) (p<0.01). The effects of IL-2 on cytotoxicity were dose and time dependent. It was also demonstrated that this lymphokine induced killer lympho-cytes, LAK cells, which showed higher cytotoxicity on renal carcinoma cells than those induced by IFN-γ.
In conclusion, a concentration of 100IU/ml of IL-2 and an incubation time of 72hr were the optimum conditions required in order to induce LAK cells which could lyse not only NK sensitive but resistant tumor cells, and LAK phenomenon produced a higher cytotoxicity than IFN-γ.

View full abstract

In the previous paper, it was shown that interleukin 2 (IL-2) enhanced NK cell activity against renal carcinoma cell lines and fresh solid tumor cells of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) which are not susceptible to NK cells, and that IL-2 in-duced a higher cytotoxicity than interferon γ (IFN-γ).
The present study was carried out to examine the mechanism of the en-hanced cytotoxicity of IL-2 and IFN-γ in vitro, and to investigate the effects of NK cell activity when peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) are simultaneously treated with these lymphokines.
To test the proliferative response of PBL, ³H-TdR incorporation was deter-mined. Effector lymphocytes, that proliferated in the presence of IL-2 but not in IFN-γ, required DNA synthesis for the induction. These lymphocytes also significantly increased phenotype in Leu 11⁺ cells (p<0.001).
IFN-γ at a concentration of 80IU/ml, when added to PBL incubated with IL-2 (100 IU/ml), increases the percentage of IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) and induced a greater enhancement in NK cells activity than that incubated with IL-2 alone.
This study concluded that the combination IL-2 and IFN-γ treatment, when given to patients with RCC, might produce synergistic effects of cytotoxicity through the induction of IL-2R.

View full abstract

A prosthesis made of alumina ceramics was designed to prevent iliac crest deformity after full-thickness bone was taken for grafting. It fitted well in most cases and proved to have great benefits. Among 61 patients in whom the pros-thesis was used, it became dislocated in one. Further, slight sinking and separa-tion of the reapproximated trunk and gluteal muscles were seen in one case each.

View full abstract

To clarify whether serum type III procollagen peptide can reflect degree of pulmonary fibrosis and is useful for the early detection of pulmonary fibrosis seen as a complication of cancer therapy, 24 cancer patients were investigated be-fore and after radiation therapy or treatment with anti-cancer drugs. The serum peptide levels in 68 healthy adults was 8.6±2.4 ng/ml (mean±SD). Before cancer therapy the serum peptide levels in 15 cancer patients without detectab'e liver dysfunction were within normal range. After cancer therapy thirteen cancer patients with complicating pulmonary fibrosis revea'ed 24.3±8.0 in serum, while the remaining 11 cases without complication of pulmonary fibrosis showed lower values of 16.1±2.5 with statistical significance (p<0.01). There was no correlation between serum peptide level and degree of pulmonary fibrosis. How-ever, the cases showing high values revealed interstitial pneumonitis followed by rapid progressive pulmonary fibrosis caused by radiation therapy or treatment with anti-cancer drugs. These results indicate that this method is useful for de-tecting the complication of progressive interstitial pulmonary fibrosis at an early stage.

View full abstract