Search

Experimental autoimmune hepatitis was produced by immunizing Wistar rats with syngeneic liver proteins. Mononuclear cells infiltrating the liver tissue were identified by immunohistochemical techniques using monoclonal antibodies specific for subpopulations of rat lymphocytes. The strong infiltration of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were found in the portal areas. Subpopulations of mononuclear cells infiltrating the liver, spleen cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes were identified by flow cytometry. Flow cytometric analysis revealed the presence of CD5- and CD8+ lymphocytes in the liver tissues. Mononuclear cells infiltrating the liver were isolated from Wistar rats having autoimmune hepatitis to determine whether those exhibit cytotoxicity against syngeneic hepatocytes; they exhibited cytotoxicity against isolated syngeneic hepatocytes, but failed to lyse K562 cells, syngeneic concanavalin A-activated splenocytes and allogeneic hepatocytes. Depletion of CD8+ T cells significantly reduced the cytotoxic ability of mononuclear cells infiltrating into the liver against syngeneic hepatocytes. These findings support the idea that liver cell injury in experimental autoimmune hepatitis may at least in part be mediated by CTL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jelly-like matrix taken from a lesion of digital mucous cyst (DMC) was analysed with cellulose acetate paper electrophoresis and an exzymatic digestion-high performance liquid chromatograph method and compared qualitatively and qualitatively and quantitatively with that from a ganglion. The ration glycoconjugate to the total solid components was extremely high in matrix from DMC, while only less than 1% in that from ganglion. In the former the greater part of glycoconjugate was glycosaminoglucans (GASs) consisting mainly of hyaluronic acid, while in the latter glycoprotein dominated and the amount of GASs was very small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fischer rats became resistant to syngeneic hepatocellular carcinoma (FAA-HTC1) cells on repeated sensitization with mitomycin C-treated FAA-HTC1 cells. In contrast, FAA-HTC1 cells injected into the liver killed normal control Fischer rats within 2 months. Histopathological studies revealed massive accumulation of mononuclear cells in the tumor tissues of sensitized rats that rejected syngeneic FAA-HTC1 cells, whereas very few mononuclear cells were found in the tumor tissues of control rats. Cell populations infiltrating the tumor tissues were identified by flow cytometric analysis. Mononuclear cells found within the regressing tumors of the sensitized rats were identified as mostly T cells, and two-thirds of these T cells were CD8-positive. Compared with the activity in control rats, the killer activity of mononuclear cells infiltrating tumors was significantly increased in the sensitized rats 7 days after tumor inoculation. Depletion of CD8(+) T cells significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of mononuclear cells infiltrating tumors obtained from sensitized rats. In contrast, depletion of CD16(+) cells reduced the cytotoxicity of mononuclear cells infiltrating tumors obtained from both control and sensitized rats. Furthermore, the CD16(+) cell-depleted fraction of mononuclear cells infiltrating tumors showed significant cytotoxicity against FAA-HTC1 cells, but failed to show cytotoxicity against other syngeneic tumor cells or allogeneic hepatoma cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: KTa x Nb1− x O3 (KTN) is a promising material for optical devices because of its large electro-optic (EO) effect. Recently, we reported a 2×2 Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI)-type EO switch consisting of a single-crystalline KTN waveguide. The development of this switch involved two important breakthroughs in relation to the crystal growth process, namely the successful use of top seeded solution growth (TSSG) and liquid phase epitaxy (LPE). We grew large KTN crystals with the TSSG technique. KTN crystals pulled in the [001] direction are rectangular and surrounded by four {100} facets. We detected faceted striations in the crystals under polarized light. Although there were {100}-, {010}-, and {001}-faceted striations in the initially grown part of the crystals, {001}-faceted striations could only be detected in the later grown parts of the crystals. We confirmed that the crystals exhibited a large EO coefficient of 4.8×10−15 m2/V2, which is the highest value yet reported. We grew epitaxial KTN films using the LPE technique. The crystallinity of the films and their surface flatness were improved by adjusting the growth conditions. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern shows that the films on the KTN substrate were grown epitaxially. Surface flatness measurements showed that the film roughness was less than 0.1μm. We fabricated waveguides by using LPE and additional lithographic processes. The fabricated waveguides achieved single-mode beam propagation, a low propagation loss, and polarization independence. The 2×2 MZI-type EO switch was successfully operated with a very low V of 2.6V. These waveguide and switch characteristics proved that LPE-grown KTN epitaxial films on TSSG-grown KTN substrates have sufficient crystallinity for optical applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]