Induction of CD54 and CD58 expression in cultured human endothelial cells by beta-interferon with or without hyperthermia in vitro.

Human endothelial cells were treated by beta-interferon with or without hyperthermia at 42 degrees C for 90 min in vitro to investigate whether these modalities were able to increase the expression of either CD54 or CD58 on the surface of the endothelial cells. The results were that the population of the endothelial cells expressing both CD54 and CD58 increased 4 days after the treatment with beta-interferon, which was independent of hyperthermia. In contrast, the primarily isolated peripheral lymphocytes from a patient with malignant melanoma (disease free state) or normal individuals responded to neither beta-interferon nor hyperthermia in terms of the expression of CD54 or CD58. These results indicate that beta-interferon may activate endothelial cells to lead to the successive activation of the other immune cells in vivo.

Concomitant immunity against tumor development is enhanced by the oral administration of a kampo medicine, Hochu-ekki-to (TJ-41: Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang).

The oral administration of a kampo herbal medicine, Hochu-ekki-to (TJ-41: Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang) using a water-supplying bottle resulted in a slight but significant inhibition of Meth A growth. The oral administration of TJ-41 with gastric gavage significantly enhanced the specific antitumor activity against Meth A at rechallenge on day 9. In a tumor-neutralizing assay, the tumor draining LN cells of the TJ-41 administered mice showed an antitumor activity against Meth A. In a cytolytic assay, the anti-Meth A specific cytolytic T lymphocyte activity was not detected in the spleen cells of the Meth A bearing and TJ-41 administered mice. The oral administration of TJ-41 enhanced the natural killer (NK) activity of the spleen cells in naive mice but could not improve the decreased NK activity of spleen cells from the tumor bearing mice. In a cytostatic assay, the peritoneal exudate cells from the Meth A bearing and TJ-41 administered mice showed a significantly higher amount of cytostatic activity against Meth A than that from either Meth A bearing or TJ-41 administered mice. These results indicate that the oral administration of TJ-41 into the tumor bearing mice may thus be able to enhance concomitant antitumor immunity through the augmentation of the cytostatic activity.

In situ detection of immunocompetent cells in murine B16 melanoma locally treated with interleukin-2 or microwaval hyperthermia.

Fidler's B16-F10 melanoma was locally treated either with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) or microwaval hyperthermia, and immunological responses of the host to the melanoma after each treatment were investigated by immunofluorescent staining of the tissue. It was found that the local injection of rIL-2 either into the base of the tumor or into the upper part of the tumor directly caused infiltration of mainly NK cells and macrophages in the interstitials and/or in the tumor nests. T cells were also observed but the extent of infiltration was less in both treatments. Local microwaval hyperthermia of melanoma at 42 degrees C for 30 min or at 43 degrees C for 15 min also caused infiltration of NK cells and macrophages. Positive staining of the melanoma tissue with anti-ICAM-1 antibody after hyperthermia was seen in the interstitials adjacent to melanoma nests containing necrotic melanoma cells caused by hyperthermia. Based on the results, the rationality of combination of hyperthermia with local injection of rIL-2 will be discussed.

Experimental study on the effect of large-dose intratumoral OK-432 administration in mice.

This experimental study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of a large-dose intratumoral administration of OK-432, which has already been found to be effective when combined with Mitomycin-C, 5-fluorouracil, and cytosine arabinoside, and/or small-dose of OK-432 in clinical use. Large-dose of OK-432 was administered intratumorally 15 days after the subcutaneous inoculation of 2.5 X 10(6) Ehrlich carcinoma cells. At the same time, 2.5 X 10(6) tumor cells were re-challenged intraperitoneally. A combined treatment with a small-dose of OK-432 and Mitomycin-C, cyclophosphamide, or 5-fluorouracil was also made. As a large-dose of OK-432, three-dose regimen of 1,000, 500, and 100 KE/kg was tested. As a small-dose of OK-432, 4 consecutive daily intramuscular injection of 50 KE/kg was examined. From the results obtained the initial intratumoral administration of a large-dose of OK=432 was found to be beneficial for the following combined treatment with a small-dose of OK-432 and Mitomycin-C or cyclophosphamide. The change of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) responsiveness of spleen cells after intratumoral injection of a large-dose of OK-432 was investigated in mice. These results indicated a decrease of PHA responsiveness of spleen cells according to the tumor growth. The intratumoral large-dose administration of OK-432 suggested inhibition of the decrease in PHA responsiveness. The most effective and suitable dose in this experiment was found to be 500 KE/kg in the three-dose regimen.