Takeshi Tone

Recombinant gamma interferon induces HLA-DR expression on squamous cell carcinoma, trichilemmoma, adenocarcinoma cell lines, and cultured human keratinocytes

SummaryWe investigated the effects of recombinant human gamma interferon on the induction of HLA-DR expression by two human squamous cell carcinoma, three trichilemmoma, one eccrine carcinoma, two adenocarcinoma cell lines, and cultured human keratinocytes in vitro. None of eight epithelial cell lines or keratinocytes expressed HLA-DR without gamma interferon treatment. In contrast, pure gamma interferon (500 IU/ml, 72-h treatment) induced HLA-DR expression on 1/2 squamous cell carcinoma, 3/3 trichilemmoma, 2/2 adenocarcinoma cell lines, and 4/4 kerationcyte cell lines, as determined using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. A maxillary squamous cell carcinoma line and an eccrine carcinoma cell line failed to express HLA-DR with gamma interferon treatment; however, the growth of cells was inhibited by gamma interferon treatment. By indirect immunoperoxidase techniques, tumor cells such as Bowens disease and squamous cell carcinoma were found to express HLA-DR. Since HLA-DR expression has been shown to be important for various immune responses, these findings suggest that gamma interferon plays important roles in various immune-related skin diseases.

A Case of Sneddon's Syndrome with Positive ANA and Anti‐cardiolipin Antibodies: Primary Anti‐phospholipid Syndrome?

A 22‐year‐old woman developed ulcerative lesions on the lower extremities which usually exacerbated during the summer. Histological analysis revealed a micro‐thrombotic lesion in the deep dermis without inflammatory cell infiltration or fibrinoid degeneration of blood vessels. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple cerebral infarctions. Abnormal laboratory findings included an elevated anti‐cardiolipin antibody titer and positive speckled pattern ANA (x80), but without other manifestations or signs of SLE. FACS analysis revealed that the patients serum reacted with ethanol fixed endothelial cells in addition to keratinocytes and peripheral blood neutrophils. This case was thought to be livedo reticularis and cerebral thrombotic lesions (Sneddons syndrome) associated with atrophie blanche or livedo(id) vasculitis and may be one clinical subset of primary anti‐phospholipid syndrome.

Common histopathological processes of phenytoin drug eruption.

Fifteen patients (6 males and 9 females) with phenytoin drug eruptions which ultimately resulted in various skin manifestations were analyzed histopathologically. The following types of skin manifestations were noted; 2 cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis, 2 cases of mucocutaneous occular syndrome, 6 cases of erythema exudative multiform, 3 cases of lichenoid, and 2 cases of the maculopapular type. All of the biopsied specimens from these different skin manifestations exhibited some of the more common histopathological findings: 1) adhesion of the infiltrated cells to the basal layer of the epidermis, 2) cell infiltration into the epidermis, 3) vacuolation of the basal cells, 4) dyskeratotic cells in the epidermis, and epidermal necrosis.

1α,25‐Dihydroxy Vitamin D3 Modulation of HLA‐DR mRNA Induced by Gamma‐Interferon in Cultured Epithelial Tumor Cell Lines

Using three cultured epithelial tumor cell lines, we investigated and analyzed the effects of gamma‐interferon (γ‐IFN) and 1α,25‐dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25‐(OH)2D3) on the levels of HLA‐DR (α) mRNA and HLA‐DR (β) mRNA by Northern blot analysis.

Enhancing Effects of Fluorescein on β‐Lactam Rash I: High Incidence of Cefclidin Rashes in an Ophthalmological Volunteer Trial

Disseminated maculopapular eruptions were frequently observed in a volunteer trial of cefclidins use in ophthalmological and neurological examinations (8/12; 67%). It appeared at 8–12 days (mean ± SD, 9.6 ±1.1 days) from the initiation of the trial and subsided within 1–2 days (mean ± SD, 1.8 ± 0.4 days). Patch testing with cefclidin produced a ± reaction in 1 of 8 cases, and the drug‐induced lymphocyte stimulation test (DLST) elicited a positive response (SI: 2.8) in 1 of 8 and a weakly positive response (1.8≦SI<2) in 2 of 8. From these findings, it seems likely that the eruptions may be partially mediated by delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions to cefclidin. No such eruption was observed in the phase II trial of cefclidin where only 2.8% of 1.122 volunteers developed the eruption. The volunteers were given both fluorescein and oxybuprocain in their eyes to measure ocular tension on days –1, 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and weeks 3, 5, 7 after the initiation of cefclidin. Fluorescein and/or oxybuprocain may affect cefclidin to induce these abnormal reactions in the volunteers.