Of the many theoretical causes of rheumatoid arthritis(RA), the most widely held theory is the autoimmune mechanism. In order to clarify the clinical significance of the immunological tests in RA, we studied immunoglobulin and complement levels in sera and synovial fluids of 118 RA patients and the following results were obtained. 1) The levels of immunoglobulins were elevated in both serum and synovial fluid and this was more prominent in the seropositive cases than the seronegative ones. 2) The levels of C3 component were decreased in both serum and synovial fluid, while those of C4 were decreased only in synovial fluid. Serum C3 and C4 component levels were more decreased in the seropositive cases than the seronegative ones. 3) The immunoglobulin levels in serum (IgG, IgM and IgA) and synovial fluid (IgG and IgA) and the levels of C3, C4 component in serum were well correlated with the clinical forms of rheumatoid arthritis. 4) The IgA level in serum and IgM level in synovial fluid were more increased in the exacerbated cases than the chronic ones. 5) Serum IgG level was decreased after steroid medication over one month.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/blood/*immunology/metabolism ; Complement 3/analysis ; Complement 4/analysis ; Female ; Human ; Immunoglobulins/analysis ; Immunologic Tests ; Male

OBJECTIVETo understand Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of gastric carcinoma cells.

METHODSThe authors tested the infection of a signet ring cell line HSC-39 derived from human gastric carcinoma with Akata and P3HR-1 strains of EBV. Akata and P3HR-1 infected of EBV cell clones were isolated by a limiting dilution method.

RESULTSEBV-encoded small RNAs (EBERs) were expressed in the infected cells with each EBV strain by in situ hybridization. The EBV infected parental cells and most clones expressed EBNA1, but not EBNA2, latent membrane protein (LMP) 1 and LMP2A. Both EBV strains infected parental cells and clones presented type I latency. The uninfected HSC-39 cells were negative for CD21 expression; however, the Akata but not P3HR-1-infected clones were positive for CD21 expression at mRNA level.

CONCLUSIONThese results demonstrated that EBV infecting HSC-39 by CD21-independent pathway. This study also defined a signet ring cell line as a new target for EBV.

Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens ; analysis ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Receptors, Complement 3d ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; virology

Castleman's disease represents an atypical lymphoproliferative disorder, infrequently associated with various immunologic abnormalities or subsequent development of malignancy such as Kaposi sarcoma, malignant lymphoma and plasmacytoma. Its clinicopathologic features depend on various etiologic factors such as Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV), oversecretion of IL-6, adhesion molecule and follicular dendritic cell dysplasia, etc. To investigate the relationship of Castleman's disease (CD) and the above factors, we reviewed 22 cases of CD. Four cases of KSHV positive CD were detected, all multicentric, plasma cell type, and these cases displayed prominent vascular proliferation, characteristic 'Kaposi-like lesion'. IL-6 and CD54 positive mononuclear cells were scattered in interfollicular areas of KSHV positive cases. Follicular dendritic cell hyperplasia, vascular proliferation, expression of IL-6 and CD54 did not show any significant difference between solitary vs multicentric type, and plasma cell type vs hyaline vascular type. Our study suggests that KSHV positive CD reveals unique pathologic features, and the probable relationship of KSHV and IL-6 and CD54 is discussed.
Adolescence ; Adult ; Biological Markers ; Dendritic Cells, Follicular/pathology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/virology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/epidemiology ; Female ; Germinal Center/pathology ; Giant Lymph Node Hyperplasia/virology ; Giant Lymph Node Hyperplasia/pathology+ACo- ; Giant Lymph Node Hyperplasia/epidemiology ; Giant Lymph Node Hyperplasia/classification ; Herpesviridae Infections/virology ; Herpesviridae Infections/epidemiology ; Herpesvirus 4, Human/isolation +ACY- purification ; Herpesvirus, Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated/isolation +ACY- purification ; Human ; Hyperplasia ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/analysis ; Interleukin-6/analysis ; Korea/epidemiology ; Lymph Nodes/virology ; Lymph Nodes/pathology ; Lymph Nodes/chemistry ; Male ; Middle Age ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Receptors, Complement 3d/analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Virus Infections/virology ; Tumor Virus Infections/epidemiology