T cell-rich B cell lymphoma bearing Epstein-Barr virus in tumor cells: a case of IBL-T-like lesion following Lennert's lesion.

A case of T cell-rich B cell lymphoma (TCRBCL) with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in tumor cells is reported. A 50 year old male developed right cervical lymph node swelling in July 1988. Initial biopsy in April 1989 demonstrated many scattered Hodgkinoid atypical cells with Lennert's lesion. After partial remission following chemotherapy, the lymph nodes enlarged again, and a second biopsy in February 1991 showed an IBL-T-like lesion. Only a small number of Hodgkinoid atypical cells were still observed. After apparently, complete remission, the lesion soon recurred and the patient died in November 1992. Immunohistochemically the Hodgkinoid cells were positive for L26, but negative for LN2, LN3, UCHL-1, MT1, lysozyme, Ber-H2 and Leu-M1. Reactivity for immunoglobulins showed false-positive because of polyclonal staining. IgH monoclonality was detected by the polymerase chain reaction method in the first biopsied specimen, and by Southern blotting in the second biopsied snap-frozen specimen. Monoclonal TCR beta rearrangement was not detected. The Hodgkinoid atypical cells were positive for EBV-encoding RNA by in situ hybridization, and LMP-1 by immunostaining. Occasionally, EBV-bearing immunoblastic, medium sized, or small lymphocytic cells were also observed. This case indicates the possibility that EBV is related to the pathogenesis of TCRBCL.

Prevalence of HTLV-I antibody among two distinct ethnic groups inhabiting the Amazon region of Brazil.

HTLV-I seroprevalences of 3.63% (02/55), 12.19% (10/82) and 13.88% (10/72) were demonstrated among Tiryio, Mekranoiti and Xicrin Amazonian Indians, respectively, by the Western blotting enzyme assay (WBEI). By indirect immunoelectron microscopy (IIEM), 2 Tiriyo, 9 Mekranoiti and 6 Xicrin Amerindians were reactive. Of 44 serum samples from Japanese immigrants, none reacted by any of the techniques before mentioned. One, 8 and 6 serum samples from Tiryio, Mekranoiti and Xicrin Indians, respectively, were both WBEI and IIEM positive. Our results strongly suggest that HTLV-I and/or an HTLV-I antigenic variant circulate (s) among populations living in the Amazon region of Brazil.

Prevalence of HTLV-I antibody among two distinct ethnic groups inhabiting the Amazon region of Brazil

HTLV-I seroprevalences of 3.63% (02/55), 12.19% (10/82) and 13.88% (10/72) were demonstrated among Tiryio, Mekranoiti and Xicrin Amazonian Indians, respectively, by the Western blotting enzyme assay (WBEI). By indirect immunoelectron microscopy (IIEM), 2 Tiriyo, 9 Mekranoiti and 6 Xicrin Amerindians were reactive. Of 44 serum samples from Japanese immigrants, none reacted by any of the techniques before mentioned. One, 8 and 6 serum samples from Tiryio, Mekranoiti and Xicrin Indians, respectively, were both WBEI and IIEM positive. Our results strongly suggest that HTLV-I and/or an HTLV-I antigenic variant circulate (s) among populations living in the Amazon region of Brazil

Autonomous growth of human T-lymphotropic virus type I infected human lymphocytes treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and ultraviolet rays.

Human T-cell cultures infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and interleukin-2 (IL-2)-dependent for their continuous growth were treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and then maintained in the medium containing phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA). Cells achieved independence from IL-2 but became TPA-dependent for continuous growth. Multiple ultraviolet (UV) irradiations of TPA-dependent cells resulted in their autonomous growth. G-band karyotype analysis revealed multiple chromosomal abnormalities that were seen in cells before and after MNNG treatment and UV irradiations, and those that were only seen in autonomously growing cells. Viral expression was found to be transiently enhanced in association with emergence of certain chromosomal changes. Exposure of HTLV-I infected cells to certain mutagens may promote the occurrence of the specific rearrangement of cellular genes responsible for regulation of cellular and viral replication and may lead these cells to neoplastic transformation.

[Expression of EGF receptor and c-neu oncogene product in chordomas].

The expression of EGF receptor, c-neu oncogene product, and of transferrin receptor in 13 cases of chordomas (9 without metastasis and 4 with metastasis) was examined immunohistologically by the B-SA method using specific antibodies to these proteins. Tumor cells in 5 cases without metastasis and 3 cases with metastasis were positive for EGF receptor, those in 7 cases without metastasis and all cases with metastasis were positive for c-neu product, while those in all cases were negative for transferrin receptor. These results suggest a possible link between the expression of cellular genes associated with the growth of neuroectodermal cells and the growth of chordoma known to arise from the embryonal rest of the notochord.

[Expression of embryonal and differentiational proteins in chordomas and in the notochord].

The expression of the embryonal and of the differentiational proteins in 12 cases of chordoma and in the notochord of a 4-month-old and a 5-month-old human embryo have been examined immunohistologically by the ABC method using polyclonal antibodies to CEA, AFP, or S-100, and the monoclonal antibody to cytokeratin. It was found that S-100 was expressed in all cases of chordoma and in the notochords examined. CEA and cytokeratin also were found expressed in some cases of chordoma but not in the notochords. These proteins were found expressed more strongly in chordomas without a metastasis than in those with a metastasis. In the metastatic lesions, these proteins were expressed more strongly than in the primary lesions. The antibody to AFP reacted with neither the chordomas nor the notochords tested. These results suggest a possible link between the gene-expression of the tumor cells and the microenvironment in which they are harbored.

Antigenic variations of retrovirus in Japanese cancer patients.

Previously we demonstrated the prevalence of human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTVL-I) infection among cancer patients in Japan. This study was carried out to examine antigenic properties of retroviruses prevalent among Japanese cancer patients. Sera of 126 Japanese patients with cancer of different organs and with no history of blood transfusion, 94 in adult T cell leukemia (ATL)-endemic area and 32 in ATL-nonendemic area, were surveyed for antibodies to HTLV-I and HTLV-II by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot analysis, and indirect immunogold electron microscopy. Among patients who were seropositive to HTLV-I, 39 of 56 (69.6%) in ATL-endemic area and 9 of 9 (100%) in ATL-nonendemic area were seropositive also to HTLV-II. Of 48 sera positive to both HTLV-I and HTLV-II, 34 (70.8%) showed stronger reactivities to HTLV-I than to HTLV-II. Among patients who were seronegative to HTLV-I, 3 of 38 (7.9%) in ATL-endemic area and 5 of 23 (21.7%) in ATL-nonendemic area were seropositive to HTLV-II. Antibodies appearing and disappearing in sera of patients examined during the clinical course reacted with peptide species of HTLV-I and/or HTLV-II not always consistent with peptide species cross-reactive between HTLV-I and HTLV-II. These results indicate the antigenic diversity of retroviruses prevalent among Japanese cancer patients.

Glycosphingolipids in clonal variants of rat fibrosarcoma cells with different transplantability.

Neutral glycolipids and gangliosides of four clonal variants of rat fibrosarcoma AS-653 cells with different transplantability were analyzed. A highly malignant clone A had a much lower quantity of GM3 ganglioside and a much higher quantity of lactosylceramide as compared to clones Z and G, which showed low transplantability and less malignancy, and a variant clone P, which showed tumorigenicity only in ascites form. A similar correlation was found with the quantity of an unidentified slow-migrating neutral glycolipid in various clones. This glycolipid was present in trace amount in the original highly malignant clone A, increased moderately in clones G and Z, and increased greatly in clone P, which showed no subcutaneous transplantability. The results of these studies suggest that a blockage of synthesis of GM3 ganglioside and a long chain neutral glycolipid occurred with enhanced malignancy, and an enhanced synthesis of GM3 ganglioside and the long chain neutral glycolipid is associated with a decrease in transplantability.