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We investigated 81 cases of peripheral pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma (PMTCL) occurring in human immunodeficiency virus-negative Europeans for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-DNA through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of EBV-encoded small nuclear RNAs (EBER) and immediate early mRNAs (Bam H-fragment, lower strand frame [BHLF]) by in situ hybridization (ISH) and for EBV-encoded latent membrane protein (LMP) and nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) by immunohistology (IH). EBER-ISH, which could be applied on all cases, showed an overall incidence of EBV-infected cells in 38 of 81 cases (47%) of PMTCL. These data could be confirmed by PCR, which produced congruent results in the cases with amplifiable DNA. By EBER-ISH, the virus was located in the tumor cells in 30 of the 38 EBV-positive cases, with the proportion of the infected cells ranging from 1% to 100%. In 18 of these cases and in the 8 cases without EBV-infected tumor cells, the virus was, respectively, either additionally or exclusively detectable in occasional nonmalignant lymphoid bystander cells. An LMP expression was observed in several of the EBER-expressing tumor cells in 18 cases, whereas EBNA2 was detectable only in one case, which also displayed signs of viral replication. Some nonmalignant EBV-infected B immunoblasts also expressed LMP in several cases. Primary cutaneous and enteropathy-associated PMTCL displayed less frequent EBV infection when compared with other extranodal or nodal manifestations.

In this study, 32 cases of T-cell lymphoma of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy type (AILD-TCL) were investigated for their association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). For this purpose, three different approaches were applied: polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of EBV-DNA, in situ hybridization (ISH) for EBV-encoded small nuclear RNAs (EBER), and immunohistology for EBV-encoded latent membrane protein (LMP). PCR and EBER-ISH produced almost identical results, showing that all but one case of AILD-TCL contained EBV genomes. Three distinctive patterns of EBV infection were observed after immunophenotypical characterization of EBER-positive cells: (1) in 26% of the cases, B and T cells were infected, the majority of which were B cells of immunoblastic morphology located in the remnants of lymphoid follicles; (2) in 42% of the cases, the vast majority of infected cells were neoplastic T cells diffusely distributed in the lymph nodes, but infected B cells were also present; and (3) in 32% of the cases, there were only a few infected small lymphoid cells. Detectable LMP was frequent in cases exhibiting patterns 1 and 2. These findings suggest that in AILD-TCL patients, B cells and especially T cells are highly susceptible to a persistent EBV infection, which often leads to a growth advantage of the infected cells. Thus EBV, in conjunction with genetic abnormalities and selective defects of the immune system, might be involved in the pathogenesis of AILD-TCL.

Human monocyte serine esterase 1 (HMSE1) was purified from U937 cell extract. Since the N terminus of the enzyme was blocked, cleavage with trypsin was used to obtain several peptides accessible to amino acid sequencing. Based on partial amino acid sequence information, an oligonucleotide probe was synthesized and used to screen a U937 cDNA library. One clone was isolated and sequenced by us which contains an open reading frame of 503 amino acids that lacks about 50 amino acids at the N terminus relative to the protein. Computer analysis revealed an active site characteristic of known carboxylesterases with a catalytic active serine. Northern blot hybridization analysis revealed that the expression of HMSE1 is restricted to cells of the monocyte/macrophage system. In contrast to the moderate expression of HMSE1 in monocytes, alveolar macrophages showed very high amounts of the transcript. With the sequence features detected by computer analysis a structure model of HMSE1 as a dimeric, membrane-bound ectoenzyme was developed.

Myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) belongs to the group of myeloproliferative syndromes. It is characterized by a sustained proliferation of megakaryocytes and increased medullary reticulin fibers. Until now the cellular phase at onset of the disease has not been analyzed for clonality of the hematopoietic cells. In this study we used X-linked restriction length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis to investigate the clonality of granulocytes and bone marrow cells from the cellular phase and advanced stages of the disease. In each of 12 heterozygous females, monoclonality of granulocytes or total bone marrow cells could be demonstrated. These results show that the cellular phase represents a monoclonal, and hence a probably neoplastic, proliferation of a pluripotent stem cell. The monoclonality of granulocytes present at the onset of disease should allow analysis of DNA of these easily accessible peripheral cells for the detection of specific clonal aberrations.

Human monocyte/macrophage serine esterase (HMSE), commonly known as acid esterase or alpha-naphthylacetate esterase, comprises a group of five enzyme variants that can be distinguished by their isoelectric points from esterase variants of the other normal human blood cell populations. A cDNA for one of the monocytic enzyme variants (HMSE1) was cloned from a U-937 lambda gt11 cDNA library by screening with an oligonucleotide mixture designed according to amino acid sequence data of the purified enzyme. The cDNA contains 1,727 bp with an open reading frame of 1,512 bp coding for a protein of 503 amino acid residues. HMSE1 cDNA represents the first cloned monocyte/macrophage-specific serine esterase and its sequence shows up to 77% homology to other known serine esterases of different species. The amino acid composition of the putative active site of HMSE1 as deduced from the nucleotide sequence corresponds with the active sites of other serine esterases but not with the active sites of serine proteases. Hybridization of the cDNA with RNA of separated normal blood cell populations and hematopoietic cell lines shows restricted expression within the monocyte/macrophage lineage.

In the search for immunoreagents appropriate for the histopathologic diagnosis of malignant B-cell lymphomas in routinely processed paraffin sections, a new monoclonal antibody, Ki-B5, was generated using a high-grade B-cell lymphoma as the immunogene. Ki-B5 is a mouse IgG1/kappa that recognizes five protein fractions of about 84, 82, 55, 48, and 27 Kd after biosynthetic radiolabeling and immunoprecipitation. Protein fractions with the molecular weights of approximately 84 and 82 Kd were expressed on the cell surface and show that Ki-B5 is probably unrelated to CD45. It was possible through electron microscopy to visualize the membrane-bound portion of Ki-B5. Extensive immunohistologic studies on normal human tissue and various neoplasias demonstrated the high specificity of Ki-B5 to normal human B cells and a minor subgroup of plasma cells. Except for ML-2, which is a myelomonocytic human cell line, Ki-B5 exclusively recognized the B-cell lineage, including EB-3, BALL-1, and NALM-1. All carcinomas, sarcomas, and malignant melanomas tested with Ki-B5 were negative. Although normal granulocytes and monocytes were constantly negative, three of eight myelomonocytic leukemias coreacted with this antibody. Eight of the 57 T-cell lymphomas studied were positive to Ki-B5. Five were classified as lymphoblastic, two represented T8-CLL, and one was classified as immunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Only 3 of 126 cases of B-cell lymphoma, including rare types not considered in the current classifications, were negative to Ki-B5. Plasmacytomas were also negative, except for one case. Irrespective of the cases of lymphoblastic lymphoma and plasmacytoma, Ki-B5 represents a new monoclonal antibody appropriate for the diagnosis and immunophenotyping of malignant lymphomas in routinely processed paraffin sections.

The effect of 50 mg/kg body weight Xantinol-nicotinate (XN) on serum lipids and on non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) was tested in 94 out-patients with hyperlipoproteinemia Types IIa, IIb, IV and V. The lipids were measured before treatment, during a 3-week period of drug administration and 10 days after rejection. In each group of hyperlipoproteinemic patients the lipid lowering effect of XN was accompanied by a constant fall in serum NEFA levels. The time dependent course of NEFA showed that the higher the initial level, the longer the time span required to achieve the lowest values. In the context of the partially conflicting data on the hypolipidemic action of nicotinic acid and its derivatives, it is suggested that the constant decrease in NEFA induced by XN treatment might contribute significantly to the lipid lowering effect of this drug.

Ki-M4, a new IgG3 monoclonal antibody, selectively recognizes dendritic reticulum cells (DRC; follicular dendritic cells) in all human lymphatic organs, as tested by the immunoperoxidase method on the light and electron microscopic level. This antibody was raised against separated lysosomes of the 12-0-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulated permanent cell line, U-937, derived from a human histiocytic lymphoma. No cross-reactivity was encountered in epithelial and mesenchymal cells, including macrophages and other cells detectable in bronchial and peritoneal lavages. In the nonadherent fraction of the mononuclear blood cells collected from the interphase of a Ficoll-Urografin gradient (density = 1.077 g/ml), 0.1 per million of the cells hitherto not classified as monocytes or lymphocytes showed a strong reaction. All other separated blood cell types were devoid of any reactivity. The observation that DRC share a highly restricted, and thus specific, antigen with a small but distinct subpopulation of mononuclear leukocytes implies their blood derivation.

An immunoperoxidase and immunoalkaline phosphatase technique is described specially devised for separate cell specimens such as smears, cytospins, and tissue imprints. The reaction may be used alone or in combination for simultaneous staining with 2 different monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies Leu3a, Leu2a, T4, T8, anti-kappa, and anti-lambda light chain were used in combination to visualize subsets of human lymphocytes selectively. Six cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia were classified by this method.

A low-dose combination of Complamin retard (1 g t.i.d.) and cholestyramine (4 g b.i.d.) was compared with each agent alone in 2 serial open trials without dietary restriction using type IIa and IIb hyperlipoproteinaemic patients. Complamin alone produced decreases in LDL and VLDL cholesterol concentrations (up to 20%) whereas cholestyramine alone produced only a modest reduction in LDL (up to 15%). The combination produced marked, progressive reductions in total cholesterol (up to 35%) and LDL (up to 40%); reductions in VLDL (up to 45%), total triglyceride (up to 60%) and free fatty acids (up to 60%) were found only in type IIb patients. The average increase in HDL-cholesterol from the 2 studies for combination therapy was 35%. No side-effects were reported or measured and compliance was excellent. The results demonstrate the potential of a method of achieving beneficial actions on lipoprotein levels with a well-tolerated therapy.

The present paper gives a review of enzyme polymorphism found in individual human blood cells with special reference to human blood monocytes. Evidence is presented indicating that not only different blood cells but also their descendants are characterized by certain constellation of isoenzymes. Considering the typical polymorphism of acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) and acid esterase (EC 3.1.1.6), we could show that a reliable biochemical marker for blood monocytes can be worked out, which is also detectable in peritoneal and alveolar macrophages as well as epithelioid cells. In different examples we could demonstrate that the isoenzyme patterns of blood monocytes can be modified into that of peritoneal and alveolar macrophages by different stimulation procedures in vitro. Studying the enzyme variants in blood monocytes and different tissue macrophages, additional criteria have been collected, which document the monocytic origin and homogeneity of the human mononuclear-phagocytic system.

The permanent promyelocytic cell line HL-60 was subjected to stimulation with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and retinoic acid (RA), as well as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and lymphokine conditioned media for the induction of granulocytic or monocytic differentiation, respectively. Cells were investigated cytochemically using alpha-naphthylacetate esterase (acid esterase; AcE), naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase, and peroxidase reactions. In addition, the granulocyte or monocyte specific isoenzyme patterns of AcE as an intracytoplasmic property and the immunoreactivity to monoclonal antibodies recognizing granulocytes and monocytes (Ki-M2, Ki-M5) or monocytes alone (Ki-M1) were considered. The results indicated that HL-60 cell line bear the potency to evolve into granulocytes as well as monocytes. Additional studies performed on normal human bone marrow stained for AcE led to the conclusion that the myeloid cell line remains bipolar until the maturation stage of promyelocytes. Myelocytes being AcE positive only in 11.5 +/- 5.0 are heterogeneous and display the first indications of separated monocytic or granulocytic differentiation.

Cell lines infected by different species of mycoplasma (Mycoplasma orale, Mycoplasma hominis) were decontaminated by co-culture with human blood monocyte (BM)-derived macrophages and pooled human immunoglobulin preparations. Co-cultures with BM-derived macrophages or murine peritoneal macrophages (PM) alone were not successful. The phenotype of infected cell lines did not differ from that of uninfected cell lines as revealed by morphological, enzymecytochemical, and immunocytochemical analysis.

Total cellular RNA of highly purified normal human blood cell populations was analyzed for the expression of the protooncogene c-fos, the cellular counterpart of the transforming FBJ virus. In marked contrast to previous findings based on in vitro studies with permanent leukemic cell lines, c-fos transcription was restricted to granulocytes. Neither blood monocytes nor blood lymphocytes or alveolar macrophages revealed detectable levels of c-fos transcription. Whereas this cellular oncogene is constitutively expressed in granulocytes, the monocytic cell line U-937 showed a transient c-fos transcription only after induction of differentiation. The contradiction between the results found in vivo and in vitro is discussed.

A monoclonal antibody, termed Ki-M6, is described, which shows a restricted reactivity to cells of the monocyte/macrophage system. On light- and electron-microscopic immunoperoxidase staining Ki-M6 recognizes monocytes and the phagocytosing compartment of macrophages residing in different tissue sites; granulocytes and the so-called immune accessories of B- and T-cell immune response as closely monocyte/macrophage related cell populations do not reveal any reactivity. This is shown by comparison with the monoclonal antibodies Ki-M4 and Ki-M1 or OKT6 recognizing immune accessory cells by immunohistochemical methods. Ki-M6 binds to a lysosomal membrane-restricted antigen of 60,000 daltons without influencing significantly lysosome-related functions as far as the chemiluminescence response is concerned.

Although multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) are a known feature of granulomatous reactions, little is known about their destination and function. In this study human blood monocyte (BM)-derived giant cells were generated by lymphokine stimulation in vitro. Their immunophenotype and ultrastructural morphology resembled that of MGCs occurring in vivo. Mitotic activity within MGCs could not be established either in vitro or in vivo. Enzyme equipment of MGCs was elevated in comparison with monocyte-macrophages. In comparison with unfused monocyte-macrophages, MGCs did not reveal a higher level of interleukin-1 production or cytostatic activity. They showed, however, a 20-30-fold increase in the production of oxygen-free radicals in response to zymosan. Transcription of the proto-oncogene c-fms was enhanced in short-term cultivated BM and was rapidly down-regulated in MGCs after fusion had occurred. It is concluded that MGCs represent highly stimulated cells of monocyte-macrophage lineage at a terminal stage of maturation.

The present study was devised to investigate the activity and isoenzymes of lysosomal acid phosphatase in individual normal human blood cells, including the T- and B-population of lymphocytes, with the aim to contribute to the classification of haematopoietic neoplasias on the basis of cell specific isoenzyme patterns. Platelets, erythrocytes, granulocytes, monocytes and T-lymphocytes were isolated from blood by gradient centrifugation or immune adsorption. B-lymphocytes were obtained from human tonsils. After purity control and isolation of lysosomes the concentration of acid phosphatase was assayed using the conventional spectrophotometric method. Isoenzymes were separated by isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide thin layer slabs. Monocytes revealed the highest activity with 14 mU/10(7) cells, about three times more than granulocytes. T-lymphocytes showed an activity of 2.85 mU/10(7) cells and B-lymphocytes of 1.83 mU/10(7) CELLS. The lowest activity was found in platelets with 0.08 mU/10(7) cells. Granulocytes showed 12 isoenzyme bands, whilst the number for monocyte, B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes and platelets were respectively 11, 12, 1 and 4 isoenzyme bands. Thus it became evident that the different blood cell populations can be distinguished on the basis of their acid phosphatase isoenzyme pattern.

A new monoclonal antibody Ki-B3 produced by a fusion with leukemic cells of a centroblastic/centrocytic lymphoma (m.l. follicular) is introduced. This antibody predominantly recognizes B cells of follicular mantle and germinal center cells, as well as plasma cells in normal lymphoid tissue. Furthermore, 80% of all low- and high-grade B cell lymphomas are stained, whereas among T cell lymphomas, only four of 15 T lymphoblastic lymphomas were positive to Ki-B3. All peripheral T cell lymphomas showed a negative reaction. Additionally, Ki-B3 detects a small percentage of monocytes and some myelomonocytic leukemias. All epithelial tissues as well as all sarcomas tested were invariably negative. Ki-B3 precipitates a 220 kiloDalton (kD) molecular weight antigen similar to the leukocyte common antigen. Presumably Ki-B3 detects a subtype of the leukocyte common antigen that is predominantly expressed on mature and immature B cells. As the antigen is formalin resistant, Ki-B3 can be used in routine hematology on paraffin sections for the detection and differential diagnosis of B cell lymphomas.

Using morphologic, enzyme-cytochemical, and immunocytochemical methods, the functional diversity of the mononuclear phagocyte system can be studied only to a limited extent. Therefore, enzyme-deficient monocyte/macrophage cell lines have been established as technical prerequisites for the generation of monocyte/macrophage hybrids by applying selective media. After mutation with ethylmethanesulfonate, six clones of U-937 were selected against increasing concentrations of 5'-bromodesoxyuridine; these clones are defective in thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.21), as shown by autoradiography and direct measurement of [3H]thymidine uptake. A broad marker panel indicates that the clones could be appropriate for the establishment of human monocyte/macrophage hybrids.

The human placenta requires contractile structures to generate energy for blood propulsion. Smooth muscle cells are not present in significant numbers in the human placenta while fibroblasts lack effective contractile properties. This study provides the following evidence that the stromal cells of the placental villi, cotyledonary septa and perivascular connective tissue are myofibroblasts. (I) Stromal cells are strongly positive for dipeptidylpeptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.5) which occurs exclusively in myofibroblasts as far as connective tissue cells are concerned. (2) The isoenzyme pattern of the placental dipeptidylpeptidase IV is identical to that of myofibroblasts in palmar fibromatosis on isoelectric focusing. (3) Antibodies raised against isolated placental dipeptidylpeptidase IV cross-react with dipeptidylpeptidase IV from myofibroblasts of palmar fibromatosis as shown by immunohistochemistry. (4) On electron microscopic examination, stromal cells present all the ultrastructural features of myofibroblasts. It is concluded that, except for the vascular component and a negligible number of Hofbauer cells, myofibroblasts make up nearly all the cellular constituents of human placental villous stroma.

A monoclonal antibody, Ki-M1, was produced, and its immunoreactivity was tested by light and electron-microscopic immunohistochemistry. Ki-M1 was found to react with monocytes, cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), interdigitating reticulum cells (IDC), and the so-called indeterminate dendritic cells of lymphoid tissue. No reactivity was seen in other human tissues or other hematopoietic cells, including granulocytes and cells of the unstimulated promyelocyte cell line HL-60. Thus, Ki-M1 is the first of the monoclonal antibodies to MPS cells to react with both human IDC and MPS cells. This suggests that IDC and MPS cells may have a common cytogenesis.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis of the homogeneity and monocytic origin of the normal unstimulated (resident) peritoneal macrophages in man. The isoelectric focusing pattern of one of the lysosomal marker enzymes, acid esterase (EC 3.1.1.6), was studied in highly purified samples of normal human blood cell fractions. All types of blood cells showed a cell-specific constellation of their enzyme variants as far as blood cells were concerned. Comparisons were made with resident peritoneal macrophages of healthy subjects. Only blood monocytes shared all their isoenzymes with peritoneal macrophages. Two additional bands, not seen in monocytes, occurred, however, in peritoneal macrophages. During exposure of blood monocytes to prolonged glass adherence there was a gradual transition of the monocytic pattern into that of peritoneal macrophages. The results document the homogeneity and monocytic origin of resident peritoneal macrophages in man.

The hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic effects of different nicotinic acid derivatives were studied. Five rabbit groups maintained on an atherogenic diet were given simultaneously various nicotinic acid derivatives (50 mg/kg body weight/day): nicotinic acid, Xantinol-nicotinate, beta-pyridylcarbinol or Pirozadil (bis-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate, 2,6-pyridindiyldimethylene). All 4 compounds showed a clear hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic effect, as measured by serum cholesterol, and by planimetric evaluation of the aortic lesions in terms of percent surface area affected in the aortas and coronary lumen. The simultaneously observed elevation of the HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio of the aortic tissue possibly indicates an antiatherogenic effect of these changes.

A monoclonal antibody (MoAb), Ki-M8, that reacts specifically with cells of the monocyte/macrophage system is described. On light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry, Ki-M8 recognizes intracytoplasmatically localized antigens of mol wt 30,000 and 32,000, increasingly expressed during differentiation of monocytes into macrophages. Ki-M8 antigen is detectable on almost all known tissue macrophages and monocyte/macrophage-related cell lines after appropriate stimulation. In functional terms Ki-M8 significantly impairs the generation of oxygen radicals during an induced respiratory burst. Applied to acute nonlymphoblastic leukemias, a clear-cut differentiation of the monocytic phenotype and differentiation is possible on the basis of Ki-M8 immunoreactivity. Ki-M8 represents a reagent specific for the monocyte/macrophage system with regard to antigen distribution in normal and neoplastic cells as well as with regard to its influence on a typical monocyte/macrophage-related function.

Four new monoclonal antibodies, termed Ki-M1, Ki-M2, Ki-M3, and Ki-M4, were developed for distinguishing macrophage subgroups. Purified lysosomes of cells of stimulated U-937 cell line were used as immunogen. Specificity control was performed by staining unfixed cryostat sections of fresh human tissue with an immunohistochemical method, which allowed reliable recognition of reactive structures. Ki-M1 reacted with macrophages of lymphoid tissue, lung, and serous cavities. Ki-M2 recognized Kupffer cells and splenic macrophages. Both monoclonal antibodies reacted with interdigitating reticulum cells and Langerhans cells, which are thought to be accessory cells of the T-cell immune response. Accessory cells of the B-cell immune response, on the other hand, showed reactivity with Ki-M3 and Ki-M4. Thus, analogous to T lymphocytes, the human mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) can be subdivided into different subgroups with the aid of appropriate monoclonal antibodies.

In vitro differentiation studies using the bipotential human leukemia cell line, HL60, have indicated that high levels of expression of two proto-oncogenes, c-fos and c-fms, are restricted to the myelomonocytic lineage. No such expression has been detected in induced granulocytic cells. In striking contrast to these observations, we found that c-fos mRNA levels are very high in purified human granulocytes, but barely detectable in blood monocytes and tissue macrophages. Human granulocytes contain, however, relatively low levels of c-fos protein, indicating that c-fos mRNA is inefficiently translated or that the protein is rapidly degraded in these cells. In closer agreement with the in vitro results, the level of the expression of c-fms is high in purified blood monocytes and undetectable in granulocytes. We found, however, that the evolution of monocytes into tissue macrophages is accompanied by a significant decrease in c-fms expression, suggesting that the function of c-fms is restricted to specific stages of monocytic differentiation. Our observations also show that results obtained using in vitro differentiation systems have to be regarded with caution, since they may not reflect the in vivo situation.