Fas ligand-mediated depletion of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes by monomeric HIV-1-gp120

In order to determine in what condition and by what mechanism gp 120 can deplete not only CD4 but also CD8 T cells, an in vitro system was established in which peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy donors were treated with recombinant gp 120. We found that gp 120 can deplete both CD4 and CD8 T cells when they have recently been activated and are exposed to IL-2-deficient conditions. Bioassay of the Fas ligand (FasL) demonstrated augmented expression and release of soluble FasL by CD4 T cells in the supernatant of this culture. The administration of anti-FasL mAb and anti-Fas mAb, both of which exhibit neutralizing activity, completely abolished the depletion of these two T cell populations in culture. Based on these findings, we concluded that FasL depletes Fas antigen expressing CD4 and CD8 T cells by programmed cell death.     

Bilateral pheochromocytomas with von Hippel-Lindau's disease: a case report

A case of bilateral pheochromocytomas with von Hippel-Lindau's disease (VHL) is reported. A 46-year-old woman who had hyperglycemia was admitted to our hospital because of abdominal tumors. Her elder sister and niece had been diagnosed as VHL. Ultrasonography, CT, and MRI revealed bilateral adrenal tumors. Noradrenaline levels in serum and urine were elevated and 131I-MIBG scintigraphy showed accumulation in bilateral adrenal glands. Moreover, she had bilateral renal cysts and cerebellar hemangioblastoma. Bilateral adrenalectomies were performed and pathological diagnosis was pheochromocytoma. This is the seventh case of bilateral pheochromocytomas with VHL reported in Japan.     

Exploring a channel to the active site of copper/topaquinone-containing phenylethylamine oxidase by chemical modification and site-specific mutagenesis

Copper amine oxidase contains an organic redox cofactor, 2,4, 5-trihydroxyphenylalaninequinone (topaquinone, TPQ), derived by the post-translational modification of a specific tyrosyl residue. To identify amino acid residues participating in the biogenesis of TPQ in the recombinant phenylethylamine oxidase from Arthrobacter globiformis, we have modified the copper/TPQ-less apoenzyme and the copper/TPQ-containing holoenzyme with 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1, 3-diazole (NBD-F). In the apoenzyme modification, the Cu2+-dependent, self-processing formation of the TPQ cofactor was retarded in accordance with the amount of NBD incorporated. The holoenzyme was also rapidly inactivated by incubation with NBD-F. The inactivation was prevented almost completely in the presence of an oxidation product from phenylethylamine, phenylacetaldehyde. Furthermore, the reaction of an inhibitor, phenylhydrazine, with TPQ was much slower in the NBD-labeled holoenzyme than in the native holoenzyme. Sequence analysis of the NBD-labeled holoenzyme has identified Lys184 and Lys354 as the labeled sites. The two Lys residues are located close to the entrance to a channel, which has been found by recent X-ray crystallographic studies to be suitable for the movement of substrates and products to and from the Cu2+/TPQ-active site buried in the protein interior (Wilce, M. C. J., et al. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 16116-16133). However, site-specific mutant enzymes for Lys184, Lys354, and the neighboring invariant His355 had normal capacities for the TPQ formation in apoenzyme. These residues were also found to be dispensable for catalytic activity of holoenzyme. Thus, modification of Lys184 and Lys354 with NBD-F presumably causes structural perturbations of the substrate channel or steric hindrance for the access of small molecules to the active site through the channel.     

Interactions between sodium tetradecyl sulfate and a series of homogeneous polyoxyethyleneglycol- n- dodecyl ethers

The surface tensions of a mixed system of sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) and a series of polyoxyethyleneglycol-n-dodecyl ethers (nED) were measured at temperatures of 30 and 40 C, respectively. When the STS concentration was fixed, the surface tension curves of the mixed system showed a flat portion in the range of which the mixed micelles would be formed. With a decrease of the added STS concentration, the length of the flat portion in these curves decreased gradually, and finally disappeared in the presence of 0.05 mM STS. Furthermore, when the concentration of STS was fixed at 1.0 mM, which is below the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the flat portion length in the surface tension curves de-creased with decreasing ethylene oxide chain length in nED and with increasing temperature. The influence of increment of temper-ature was comparable to that for reducing the length of ethylene oxide chain in nED.     

A relational database machine with large semiconductor disk and hardware relational algebra processor

This paper describes the basic concepts, design and implementation decisions, standpoints and significance of the database machine Delta in the scope of Japan’s Fifth Generation Computer Project. Delta is planned to be operational in 1985 for researchers’ use as a backend database machine for logic programming software development. Delta is basically a relational database machine system. It combines hardware facilities for efficient relational database operations, which are typically represented by relational algebra, and software which deals with hardware control and actual database management requirements. Notable features include attribute-based internal schema in accordance with the characteristics found in the relation access from logic programming environment. This is also useful for the hardware relational algebra manipulation algorithm based on merge-sorting of attributes by hardware and a large capacity Semiconductor Disk for fast access to databases. Various implementation decisions of database management requirements are made in this novel system configuration, which will be meaningful to give an example for constructing a hardware and software combination of a relational database machine. Delta is in the stage between detailed design and implementation.     

Consideration of allowable flaw size for pressurized pipes

Failure strength for circumferentially and axially cracked Type 304 stainless steel pipes is evaluated based on the net-stress approach. Using this approach, allowable flaw sizes for pipes containing circumferential or axial cracks are considered from the leakage and breakage viewpoint.     

Pore formation and translocation of melittin

Ferritin (Ft) plays an important role in cellular iron metabolism. It can store substantial amounts of iron in a nontoxic soluble form. However, its ability to donate iron for cellular needs, in particular for hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis in human erythroid cells, is still controversial. We studied the role of intracellular Ft-iron in Hb synthesis and the involvement of lysosomal proteolysis in iron release from Ft. Ft-iron release and its subsequent incorporation into heme was investigated in normal human erythroid precursors developing in culture. Dual staining flow cytometry with antibody (Ab)-specific for Ft and for Hb showed a decrease in cellular Ft content in erythroid cells during their maturation. Cellular Ft-iron participation in heme synthesis was studied by labeling cells with 59Fe. Cells were incubated with 59Fe-labeled human diferric transferrin (Tf), then chased, and intracellular radioiron distribution between Ft and Hb was determined on subsequent days by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and/or Ft immunoprecipitation and heme extraction. On day 6, most of the 59Fe accumulated in Ft. Thereafter, a progressive decrease of radioiron in Ft and a corresponding increase of the label in Hb was observed. Inhibition of heme synthesis with succinylacetone caused radioiron to remain in Ft and prevented its redistribution. Addition of unlabeled diferric Tf to the culture medium did not prevent radioiron from appearing in Hb. Chloroquine repression of lysosomal function prevented radio-iron redistribution between Ft and Hb. Inhibition of proteolysis by chymostatin and/or leupeptin led to Ft-protein accumulation in the cells and also prevented radioiron transfer from Ft to Hb. The results of the present study suggest that intracellular Ft donates iron for heme synthesis and that proteolytic Ft degradation in a lysosomal-like compartment is necessary for iron release and its transfer to heme.     

Extrathymic and thymic origin of murine IEL: are most IEL in euthymic mice derived from the thymus?

Given the current explosion of knowledge of the genetics and molecular biology of cancer, the possibility of widespread testing for inherited predisposition to cancer has been raised. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of inherited predisposition on cancer mortality among the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council Twin Registry. The twins were white male United States veterans of World War II, who were born during the period 1917-1927. The follow-up period was from 1946 to 1990, and some cause of death was determined with the use of death certificates. We compared concordance for death from cancer among 5690 monozygotic twin pairs to that among 7248 dizygotic pairs. A possible effect of inherited predisposition to death from cancer was considered present if concordance for cancer mortality among monozygotic twin pairs was greater than it was among dizygotic twin pairs. Among monozygotic and dizygotic twins, a total of 1918 cancer deaths was observed. Concordance for death from cancer at all sites among monozygotic twins was higher than it was among dizygotic twins (overall rate ratio, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.0). For each zygosity group, two or fewer pairs were observed to be concordant for death from cancer of a specific site, with the exception of lung cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Robot language from the standpoint of FA system development—An outline of FA-BASIC

A new unified FA (Factory Automation) language has been developed. The language is suited for robot control, vision system control and programmable controller (PC) control and enables a unified means for programming. The language is called FA-BASIC and has common functions such as expression, control structure and input/output statement based on BASIC language.

FA-BASIC is composed of three subsystems: FA-BASIC/R for robot control, FA-BASIC/V for vision system control and FA-BASIC/C for PCs.

Many languages have been developed up to now, but most of them were aimed at single purposes. These single purpose languages were too limited when developing an integrated FA system, because several languages and different program-making methods must be mastered.

Using FA-BASIC, programming with mutual interconnections between robots, PCs and vision devices is done by the one common method.

In this paper, the basic design concept and functions of FA-BASIC will be presented, along with the features of FA-BASIC/R and on outline of a robot control system using a standard mechanism-independent intermediate language and standard fundamental modules. Also, for easy programming, an off-line programming system with graphical aids and a menu-selection method which require no special effort to master will be introduced as the only present-day universal robot programming method.