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Background: CXCR5+ T follicular helper (TFH) cells primarily promote B cells to produce an antigen-specific antibody through germinal centers (GCs). TFH cells exist in circulation, and circulating(c) TFH2 cells, a subset of cTFH cells, are able to help naïve B cells produce IgE in healthy individuals. Conversely, IL-10-producing regulatory B (Breg) cells inhibit an accelerated immune response. Methods: We investigated the roles of cTFH cells and cBreg cells based on a TH2 response in patients with atopic asthma (AA). Thirty-two patients with AA and 35 healthy volunteers (HV) were enrolled. We examined cTFH cells including their subsets, their expression of ICOS and PD-1, and cBreg cells by flow cytometry and their associations with clinical biomarkers. Plasma levels of CXCL13, which is a counterpart of CXCR5, were also measured using ELISA. Results: In patients with AA, cTFH2 cells were increased and cTFH1 cells were decreased compared with those in HV. The expression levels of ICOS on cTFH and their subset cells were elevated and Breg cells were greatly decreased. The plasma levels of CXCL13 in patients with AA were significantly elevated and correlated well with the cTFH2/cBreg ratio. These cells were examined in 10 patients AA before and after inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment. Interestingly, the percentages and numbers of TFH2 and ICOS+ cTFH cells declined after ICS treatment together with improvements in symptoms and clinical biomarkers. Conclusions: The percentages and numbers of cTFH2 and ICOS+ cTFH cells might be useful as biomarkers of TH2 typed airway inflammation in patients with AA. Keywords: CXCL13, ICS, IgE, Regulatory B cell, T follicular helper cell

We have analyzed mechanisms controlling infiltration of T lymphocytes into tumor tissues. A lymphocyte chemotactic factor-b (LMF-b) produced by tumor infiltrating CD4+ T lymphocytes was purified. LMB-b was specifically chemotactic for CD8+ T lymphocyte. Furthermore, LMF-b augmented lymphocyte adhesion to high endothelial venule (HEV) cells. The binding of CD8+ T cells to HEV cells was specifically augmented by LMF-b. The LMF-b primarily acted on T lymphocytes, whereas tumor necrosis factor as well as IFN-gamma acted on HEV cells or fibroblast cells. The binding of lymphocytes to fibroblast cell line was not augmented by LMF-b. The augmentation of lymphocyte adhesion to endothelial cells by LMF-b was mediated by the lymphocyte function associated antigen-1/intercellular adhesion molecule (LFA-1/ICAM) pathway, the CD2/LFA-3 pathway, and the very late antigen-4/culture supernatant-1 (VLA-4/CS-1) pathway.

We have established eleven T cell hybridoma cell lines to investigate mechanisms controlling interaction of T lymphocytes with endothelial cells as well as extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins at the clonal level. T cell hybridomas were characterized and subdivided into four groups on the basis of their interaction behavior with high endothelial venules (HEV). Group 1 (G1) exhibited strong adhesiveness. The binding was temperature- and divalent cation-dependent. Group 2 exhibited both adhesiveness and transendothelial migration (TEM, i.e., transmigration beneath the cytoplasm of endothelial cells). Group 3 exhibited strong TEM. G2 and G3 hybridomas exhibited temperature-independent and divalent cation-independent binding to HEV. Group 4 exhibited nonspecific adhesiveness to the surface of a slide glass. BW 5147, a parent of T cell hybridomas, was classified as G4. TEM was dependent on both the nature of T cell hybridomas and endothelial cells. TEM was completely temperature-dependent. TEM of G3 hybridomas was not divalent cation-dependent. Each group of T cell hybridomas interacted with various ECM components.

We report a case of rheumatoid nodules of the lung seen in a patient with palindromic rheumatism. A 54-year-old man with palindromic rheumatism was admitted for evaluation of three nodules in the right upper lobe on chest roentgenogram. Wedge resection was performed for the purpose of confirmative diagnosis and treatment. Histology of these lung lesions revealed palisaded histiocytic cells surrounding a layer of central necrosis, which were considered to be characteristic findings of rheumatoid nodule. Such a case is extremely rare. To our knowledge, only one other case has been reported before in the literature.(Internal Medicine 31 : 951-954, 1992)

原発性肺癌切除例86例において, CTによる縦隔リンパ節腫大及び転移の診断精度についてretrospectiveに検討した.腫大に関して, 10mm厚スキャンでsensitivityは49～55%, specificityは94～96%であった.スライス厚を変えても腫大の指摘率に差はなかった.pN2症例において, 転移の診断率は腫大よりも若干低値を示した.今後は, 原発巣の組織型, 発生部位を考慮するとともに, 縦隔の部位別の診断基準を確立することが必要と考えられた.