Albert T. Ichiki

A study of immunoreactive calcitonin (CT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in lung cancer and other malignancies

Levels of immunoreactive ACTH and calcitonin (CT), as well as CEA, were determined serially in 144 patients with lung cancer and in 62 patients with metastatic carcinoma to the lungs. Patients with neoplasms not involving the lungs, with nonmalignant blood dyscrasias, and with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were studied, as were normal control subjects.

A method for the concentration of erythropoietin from human urine

Abstract A method for concentrating erythropoietin in urine is described. The concentration was achieved by use of a hollow fiber membrane apparatus with a 10,000 MW exclusion, Model DC2 filtration system with a H1DP10 cartridge (Amicon Incorporated, Lexington, MA). Essentially all of the ESF activity was recovered from a test volume of urine obtained from a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Test specimens of urine from anemic patients were concentrated to determine ESF levels of these patients. Urine specimens from normal volunteers was likewise concentrated to determine the daily level of ESF excreted by these individuals.

Physiochemical properties of erythropoietin: Isoelectric focusing and molecular weight studies☆

Abstract In this study, ESF has been further characterized with respect to isoelectric point and molecular weight. Isoelectric points varied widely for human urinary ESF, ranging from pH 4.1 to 5.8. Sheep plasma ESF had a relatively low pI, which agreed with published results, but rabbit plasma ESF had a significantly higher pI. It was concluded that ESF is a heterogeneous macromolecule, both between human patients and between species. The molecular weights of ESF from human urine and rabbit and sheep plasma were determined by PAGE and by gel filtration in 6 m GuHCl. Molecular weights determined in polyacrylamide gels were consistently higher (51,300 ± 6,000 daltons) than those obtained by gel filtration (33,000 ± 2,900 daltons). Since glycoproteins frequently appear to have higher molecular weights in polyacrylamide gels, it was concluded that the average value obtained by gel filtration of 33,000 daltons was the more accurate value. Since other laboratories have found the molecular weight of ESF to be approximately twice the value by gel filtration in the presence of 6 m GuHCl, the molecular weights of ESF reported here are for the monomeric form of ESF; however, ESF exists as a dimer in nature.

A subpopulation of T cells detected by AET-treated sheep erythrocytes

Abstract The rosette-forming capacity of lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of normal subjects and patients with colorectal cancer, malignant melanoma, lymphoma, and acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia was determined with sheep erythrocytes (E) and 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide (AET)-treated E. The titer of anti-thymocyte globulin that caused a 25% inhibition in rosette formation was also tested with the untreated and AET-treated E. An increase of approximately 20% in RFC was observed with AET-treated E when compared to E. The ratio of AET-RFC/E-RFC varied in different kinds of cancer with the highest ratio observed in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The anti-thymocyte globulin titer was always found to be greater with the E than with the AET-treated E. The properties of an E-RFC-depleted lymphocyte preparation lead to the belief that there are at least two subpopulations of T cells, one of which is highly avid for E and AET-treated E.

Inhibition of rosette formation by antithymocyte globulin

SummaryThe peripheral blood leukocytes from 29 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon were studied sequentially for the T-cell level, the rosette-inhibition titer of antithymocyte globulin and the blastogenic response to PHA and Con A to evaluate the T-cell immunocompetence. The level of E-rosette-forming cells and the blastogenic response did not reflect the immunocompetence of the T-cell population. Fluctuations in the rosette-inhibition titer of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) were observed; an increased ATG titer indicated an unfavorable clinical course, while a decreased ATG titer was observed with patients who had a favorable clinical course. The rosette-inhibition titer with antithymocyte globulin was observed to be an important indicator of competent T cells in patients with colorectal cancer.

Cell death in the human leukemia cell line, K-562 induced by antiserum and monoclonal antibodies

Rabbit polyclonal antiserum, or derived gamma globulin, to K-562 cells induces decreased TdR uptake within hours and cell death without cytolysis in 2-4 days. A panel of nine mAb, reactive with K-562 cells, was grouped on the basis of no effect on growth or TdR uptake, increased uptake, or decreased uptake. Treatment of cells with antiserum, gamma globulin, or mAb of the last group caused single-strand, but not double-strand, DNA fragmentation at a time when the cells were still viable. Cycloheximide did not inhibit the antibody effect suggesting that protein synthesis was not required. Aurintricarboxylic acid at certain concentrations markedly enhanced TdR uptake and protected the cells when antiserum was used but did not protect from mAb treatment.

Inhibition of leukocyte adherence by 3 M potassium chloride extracts of human malignant melanoma

The tube leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) assay was performed using 3 M KCl extracts of malignant melanoma materials and leukocytes taken from 24 malignant melanoma patients. Of these patients, 21 participated in sequential studies which employed a minimum of 3 time points. An increasing non-adherence index (NAI) was found in 5 of 6 patients who exhibited a favorable disease course. In 5 of 6 patients with an unfavorable disease course, NAI values decreased. In 8 of 9 patients with stable disease, the NAI also was stable. These results indicate that the trend of sequential LAI studies reflects the clinical course of malignant melanoma patients.