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The time course of ?2-macroglobulin (?2M) synthesis in rat liver was investigated using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, correlations between synthesis of ?2M in hepatocytes and interleukin (IL)-6 and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1), which are considered to contribute to the production of ?2M, were evaluated. The presence of ?2M in the liver was investigated by immunohistochemistry, and serum levels of ?2M, IL-6 and CINC-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ?2M was not detected in the liver before injection of turpentine oil. ?2M was detected throughout the liver at 12 hours after injection of turpentine oil, when high serum levels of IL-6 and CINC-1 were observed. ?2M was distributed mainly around the central vein of the liver at 36 hours. Only small amounts of ?2M were detected in the liver at 48 hours, when peak serum levels of ?2M were observed. Synthesis of ?2M in hepatocytes peaked long before peak ?2M serum levels were seen. In conclusion, ?2M was considered to be synthesized in response to stimulation by IL-6 and CINC-1., Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Vol. 27 No. 2 (2000)

The time course of ?2-macroglobulin (?2M) synthesis in rat liver was investigated using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, correlations between synthesis of ?2M in hepatocytes and interleukin (IL)-6 and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1), which are considered to contribute to the production of ?2M, were evaluated. The presence of ?2M in the liver was investigated by immunohistochemistry, and serum levels of ?2M, IL-6 and CINC-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ?2M was not detected in the liver before injection of turpentine oil. ?2M was detected throughout the liver at 12 hours after injection of turpentine oil, when high serum levels of IL-6 and CINC-1 were observed. ?2M was distributed mainly around the central vein of the liver at 36 hours. Only small amounts of ?2M were detected in the liver at 48 hours, when peak serum levels of ?2M were observed. Synthesis of ?2M in hepatocytes peaked long before peak ?2M serum levels were seen. In conclusion, ?2M was considered to be synthesized in response to stimulation by IL-6 and CINC-1., Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Vol. 40 (2014)

This article reports the case of a 44-year-old male with skeletal Class III, Angle Class III malocclusion and unilateral crossbite with concerns about obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), esthetics and functional problems. To correct the skeletal deformities, the maxilla was anteriorly repositioned by employing LeFort I osteotomy following pre-surgical orthodontic treatment, because a mandibular setback might induce disordered breathing and cause OSAS. After active treatment for 13 months, satisfactory occlusion was achieved and an acceptable facial and oral profile was obtained. In addition, the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) decreased from 18.8 preoperatively to 10.6 postoperatively. Furthermore, after a follow-up period of 7 months, the AHI again significantly decreased from 10.6 to 6.2. In conclusion, surgical advancement of the maxilla using LeFort I osteotomy has proven to be useful in patients with this kind of skeletal malocclusion, while preventing a worsening of the OSAS.

Anti-thyrotropin (TSH) receptor autoantibodies (TRAbs) have been known to be involved in Graves' disease. To understand the molecular mechanism for pathogenesis of TSAbs in Graves' disease, we isolated and reconstituted the Ig genes of EBV-transformed B cell clones producing monoclonal thyroid stimulating Ab (TSAb) obtained from patients with Graves' disease. The V region genes of Ig heavy (H) and light (L) chains of two TSAb clones, IgG clone B6B7 and IgM clone 101-2, were isolated by the PCR. Nucleotide sequencing analysis revealed that germ-line VH and VK segments widely used for autoantibodies including the previously isolated TRAbs were utilized in the two clones. A significant number of somatic mutations were found in V regions of both clones, indicating the involvement of somatic mutations for the TSAb specificity. Reconstituted Ig H and L chain genes of the two clones were stably introduced into myeloma cells for IgG1 production. IgGs purified from cultured supernatants of both transfectants exhibited significant TSAb activities, while they did not inhibit TSH binding to the receptor. The successful expression of recombinant TSAbs in eukaryotic cells will provide opportunities to apply them to various pathophysiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic investigations in autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Red tides of Heterocapsa circularisquama, identified as a new species of dinoflagellate a few years ago, have frequently caused mass mortality of several species of bivalve in Japan, whereas no harmful effects on fishhave been reported so far. We found that cell-free methanol extract from H. circularisquama caused haemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes and showed cytotoxic effects on HeLa cells and on the rotifer Brachionusplicatilis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Interestingly, the haemolytic activity and cytotoxic effects of the extract were completely dependent on the presence of light, and no such bioactivities wereobserved in the dark even at very high concentrations of the extract. The maximum activity was attained at 420nm. These results suggest that H. circularisquama has a photosensitising haemolytic toxin. Highly purifiedtoxin was obtained after several purification procedures including gel-filtration, thin-layer chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance liquidchromatography. The absorption spectrum of this purified toxin in dimethyl sulfoxide showed peaks at 450nm, 590nm and 640nm.

Interactions between the red tide-forming dinoflagellate Gyrodinium instriatum Freudenthl et Lee and the diatom Skeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve were investigated in bialgal cultures. The growth rates andmaximum cell densities of G. instriatum decreased dramatically in cultures containing S. costatum. In addition, morphologically abnormal cells of G. instriatum were observed in these cultures, and many cells lost their motility. Conversely, the growth of S. costatum was generally not influenced by the presence of G. instriatum, although small etiolated cells of S. costatumwere occasionally observed when the initial cell density of G. instriatum was high. The growth of G. instriatum and S. costatum in the bialgal cultures was simulated using a mathematical model. This interactive model indicated that G. instriatum and S. costatum steadily approach a stable equilibrium point of about 5 X 103 cells ml–1 and 12 X 105 cells ml–1 respectively, when thetwo species coexist.

The src-family protein tyrosine kinase, Lyn, has been reported to play a crucial role in the regulation of B-cell antigen receptor (BCR)-mediated signalling. To elucidate the role of Lyn in the maintenance of immunological tolerance and the prevention of B-1 cell activation and its autoantibody production, Lyn-deficient mice were crossed with transgenic mice carrying the immunoglobulin heavy and light chain genes encoding an autoantibody against mouse red blood cells. In the transgenic mice, most peripheral B cells expressed the B-1 cell phenotype. When the transgenic mice were bred in specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions, B-1 cells were anergic and did not produce any autoantibody. In contrast, Lyn-deficient transgenic mice kept in the same SPF conditions revealed markedly increased numbers of activated B-1 cells and developed severe autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. Moreover, the mice had a huge splenomegaly containing a remarkable accumulation of erythroblasts, resulted from extramedullary erythropoiesis, in addition to the increased numbers of lymphoblast-like cells of the B-1 cell lineages. The present study demonstrates a crucial role of Lyn kinase in the regulation of B-1 cell activation and maintenance of tolerance.