Masaaki Tashiro

An anti-carbohydrate monoclonal antibody inhibits cell-substratum adhesion of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells

A monoclonal rat IgM antibody (4C9) raised against F9 embryonal carcinoma cells reacted with fucosyl residues in poly-N-acetyllactosamine-type large carbohydrates of these cells (embryoglycan). The chemical properties and distribution of the antigen resembled those of SSEA-1. The monoclonal antibody was found to inhibit cell-substratum adhesion of F9 cells: in the presence of the antibody, cells grew as spherical cell aggregates on plastic dishes. When the antibody was added to the already spread cells, they displayed the initial sign of rounding up within 3 h; the rounding process was largely completed within 6 h. After removal of the antibody, cells resumed their normal morphology. The antibody could act in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol. In serum-free medium, F9 cells spread on plastic dishes coated with fibronectin or with laminin, and the process was also inhibited by the antibody. Immuno-electronmicroscopy revealed that 4C9 antigen was diffusely distributed over the cell surface of F9 cells. The distribution of the antigen was not altered generally after culturing with the antibody for 6 h. Another monoclonal rat IgM antibody, which did not react with embryoglycan and resembled anti-Forssman, did not inhibit cell-substratum adhesion of F9 cells, in spite of its reactivity to the cells. Thus, a glycoprotein with fucosyl (poly)-N-acetyllactosamine structure appears to be involved in cell-substratum adhesion of F9 cells.

A Case of Intravascular Malignant Lymphomatosis (Angiotropic Large-cell Lymphoma) Presenting Memory T Cell Phenotype and Its Expression of Adhesion Molecules

A case of intravascular malignant lymphomatosis (angiotropic large cell lymphoma), T cell type was reported. The patient, a 59‐year‐old woman, had reddish or violaceous indurated macules scattered over the entire body surface. Neither lymphadenopathy nor hepatosplenomegaly was recognized.

Correction of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency in spf-ash mice by introduction of rat OTC gene

We introduced rat ornithine transcarbumylase (OTC) gene into OTC‐deficient spf‐ash mice by mating spf‐ash heterozygotes with transgenic mice which carried recombinant DNA composed of 1.3 kb of the 5′ flanking region of the gene fused onto rat OTC cDNA. The liver OTC activity of hemizygous spf‐ash mice which carried the transgene was about twice that of nontransgenic spf‐ash mice, and the small intestinal OTC activity was 6 times higher; the values being 12% and 27% of the control levels, respectively. The transgenic spf‐ash mice showed normal hair growth without sparse, fur, nearly normalized urinary orotic acid excretion and normalized serum citrulline concentration.

Differences in HTLV-I integration patterns between skin lesions and peripheral blood lymphocytes of HTLV-I seropositive patients with cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders

We examined HTLV-I integration patterns in nine cases of HTLV-I-seropositive patients with cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders. The Southern blot on EcoRI digests of DNA revealed a discrete band of HTLV-I provirus (monoclonal integration) in either skin lesions or peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Four cases showed the monoclonal integration of HTLV-I provirus only in skin lesions: one case showed only in PBL and two cases showed in both skin and PBL. The Southern blot on PstI digests of DNA revealed a 2.4 Kb band of the internal construct of HTLV-I provirus (polyclonal integration) in the PBL of EcoRI-negative samples. The difference in HTLV-I integration patterns between skin lesions and PBL in these cases suggests that the monoclonal outgrowth of HTLV-I-infected cells in the skin is causatively associated with the pathogenesis of cutaneous ATL.

Immunolocalization of Desmoglein I (“Band 3” Polypeptide) on Acantholytic Cells in Pemphigus Vulgaris, Darier's Disease, and Hailey-Hailey's Disease

Acantholysis is defined as loss of coherence between epithelial cells and is histologically shown in several bullous diseases.

A CASE OF BENIGN MESENCHYMOMA CONTAINING CARTILAGEOUS TISSUE COMPONENTS WITH ENCHONDRAL OSSIFICATION

A 50‐year‐old man with benign mesenchymoma containing cartilageous tissue components with enchondral ossification was reported. The tumor was located in the soft tissue of the right leg. Microscopically, it was composed of lipomatous, myxolipomatous or angiolipomatous, hemangiomatous, myxomatous, and fibrous connective tissue in addition to the ossifying cartilageous tissue components. We have found 21 cases of benign mesenchymoma in the Japanese literature and determined that our case with cartilageous components showing enchondral ossification was unique among a variety of well‐differentiated mesenchymal components.

Expression of Human T‐cell Lymphotropic Virus Type‐1 Gene Products in the Short‐term Cultured Skin Tissues of an Adult T‐cell Leukemia/Lymphoma Patient with Cutaneous Manifestations

Adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is recognized as a disease etiologically associated with human T lymphotropic virus type‐1 (HTLV‐1) infection, but, neither viral replication nor specific virus antigen expression have been detected on ATLL cells distributed in organs, including skin. To examine the latent expression of HTLV‐1 in the cutaneous lesions of ATLL patients, we cultured the lesional skin tissues in vitro and applied immunofluorescence staining with mouse monoclonal antibodies Lt‐4, GIN‐14, and F10, which react with p40tax, p19 and gp21, respectively.

Normalization of hair growth in sparse fur-abnormal skin and hair (SPF-ASH) mice by introduction of the rat ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) gene

The sparse fur-abnormal skin and hair (SPF-ASH) mouse is a model for the human X-linked hereditary disease, ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency. This condition is characterized by abnormal skin and delayed hair growth, hyperammonemia, orotic aciduria and low levels of serum citrulline and arginine. Murakami et al. [1] established a line of transgenic mice, by introducing the recombinant rat OTC (rOTC) gene into fertilized C57BL mouse eggs. We introduced the rOTC gene into SPF-ASH mice by mating SPF-ASH heterozygotes and transgenic mice, which carried this gene. The hemizygous SPF-ASH mice bearing the rOTC gene showed normal hair growth without sparse fur, normal urinary orotic acid excretion and normal serum citrulline and arginine levels. These mice showed OTC activities 2 and 6 times higher in the liver and small intestine, respectively, than the SPF-ASH mice but about 12% and 27% those of the controls [2].

Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, So-called Ki-1 Lymphoma: A Report of a Case of Long Course

A 55‐year‐old female with a complaint of tumors on the right lower extremity was reported. The condition was diagnosed as anaplastic large cell lymphoma, so‐called Ki‐1 lymphoma, by its histological and immunohistochemical features. The clonal proliferation of the infiltrating cells of the skin lesions was confirmed by the analysis of T cell receptor gene rearrangement. The lesions have repeatedly occurred on the right lower extremity for more than ten years.

Ultrastructural immunocytochemical studies of blood group substances in human eccrine glands.

We investigated the ultrastructure of blood group antigens A, B, and H in human eccrine glands by means of the immunogold labeling technique. Blood group antigens A, B, and H were found in the Golgi apparatus, secretory granules, and over the apical and basolateral cell membranes of dark cells of eccrine glands depending on the blood group phenotype of the donors. Both A and B antigens were found in the dark cells of AB donors. The labeling pattern of the Golgi stacks seemed to have a polarity whereby the anti-blood group A antibody labeled all the stacks, whereas anti-blood groups B and H bound to the trans side of the Golgi complex. These observations suggest that the blood group substances are secreted into the lumen after being processed through the Golgi apparatus and the immature and mature granules in the dark cells of human eccrine glands.