Hideki Nishikawa

Augmentative effect of Nocardia rubra cell-wall skeleton (N-CWS) on lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell induction

SummaryThe present study elucidated that N-CWS augments the cytolytic activity against 3LL tumor cells of LAK cells from N-CWS-immunized mice administered i.p. with rIL-2. This augmentative effect of N-CWS was not seen when the LAK cells were prepared from normal mice. The cytolytic activity was predominantly expressed in the NAPC prepared from the site of injection of rIL-2, and repeated administrations of rIL-2 were required to induce and maintain this potent cytolytic activity in vivo. Serological analysis revealed that the LAK cells were positive for Thy 1.2 and asialo GM1 antigens and that they were not classical CTL or NK cells. The administration of rIL-2 statistically prolonged the MST of mice bearing LAK-sensitive 3LL cells but not the MST of mice bearing LAK-resistant EL-4 leukemia. Furthermore, combination therapy with N-CWS and rIL-2 prolonged the MST of the mice more than the therapy with rIL-2 alone. These results suggest that LAK cells potentiated with N-CWS would be useful for immunotherapy of malignant neoplasms.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: Analysis of pulmonary washings

Bronchopulmonary washings from a patient with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis who underwent therapeutic pulmonary lavage were examined. There were large amounts of protein and lipids of which main classes were phospholipid, cholesterol and free fatty acid. The major component of phospholipids recovered from the washings was lecithin rich in palmitic acid. We also found a high IgG level in the washings. Both the findings of free cholesterol in high concentration in the washings and the electrophoretic pattern of protein in the washings suggested that the alveoli-filling material of our patient was not wholely derived from passive transudation of plasma constituents.