The study was undertaken to clarify any quantitative abnormalities in peripheral blood T lymphocytes and T subsets, mediating cell meliated immunity, and the presence of any relation between the degree of quantitative abnormalities and extent of skin lesions and activity of disease in patients with psoriasis by monoclonal antibodies. The results were as follows. 1. Mean percentages of total and suppressor T lymphocytes in 39 patients with psoriasis are significantly decreased as compared with those in 32 controls. Mean ratio of percentage of helper T lymphocytes to that of suppressor Tlymphocytes in 39 patients with psoriasis are significantly increased as compared with that in 32 controls. 2, As classified into three groups according to extent of skin lesions (E: less than 5% E,: 5-30%, and E,: more than 30%), mean pereentages of total T lymphocytes in E, and E, psoriasis group and those of suppressor T lymphocytes in all three psoriasi., groups are significantly decreased as compared with those in controIs. Mean percentages of helper T lymphor,ytes in L psoriasis group and mean ratios of percentage of helper T lymphocytes to that of suppressor T lymphocytes in E, and E, psoriasis groups are significantly increased as compared with those in controls. 3. Cis classified into three groups according to activity of disease (A,: stationary, A,: active, peripherally spreading and A,: active, small papules spreading), mean percentage of total T lymphocytes in peripheral blood lymphocytes in A, psoriasis group and those of suppressor T lymphocytes in all three psoriasis group are significantly decreased as compared with those in controls. Mean percentages of helper T lymphocytes and mean ratios of percentage if helper T lymphocytes to that of suppressor T lymphocytes in A, and A, psorixsis groups are significantly increased as compared with those in controls. These results clarified that there are quantitative abnormalities in peripheral blood I' lymphocytes and T subsets in patients with psoriasis and the degrees of abnorrnalities are related to extent of skin lesions and activity of disease. The aanorrnalities in peri.pheral blood T lymphocytes and T subsets in patients with psoriasis seem to be attributed to primary defect of suppressor T lymphoytes.
Antibodies* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Negotiating ; Psoriasis* ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes*

The pregnancy causes the marked changes in maternal renal hemodynamic and volume homeostasis. During pregnancy, renal sodium and water retention result in an expansion of extracellular fluid and plamsma volume. This study was to examine the alteration of expression and localization of COX-1, 2, mRNAs and proteins in the kidneys of non-pregnant (NP) and pregnant rats using RT-PCR, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated on various time sets : days 10.5 (P10.5), 12.5 (P12.5), 17.5 (P17.5), and 19.5 (P19.5). In RT-PCR, COX-1 expression was gradually increased from P10.5 to P19.5 compared with NP rat. COX-2 expression was gradually decreased from P10.5 to P17.5 compared with NP rat, but restored NP level at P19.5. In Western blot analysis, COX-1, 2 proteins were detected in ~70, ~72 kDa, respectively. COX-1 expression was gradually increased from P10.5 to P17.5 and peaked at P19.5 compared with NP rat. COX-2 expression of pregnant rats was slightly decreased compared with NP rat. In NP rat, immunoreactivity of COX-1 was detected in entire collecting duct, glomerular epithelium, and medullary interstitial cells. In pregnant rats, the pattern of cellular labeling and signal intensity of COX-1 protein was identical to NP rat, but signal intensity was markedly increased in the inner stripe of outer medulla and inner medulla at P19.5. COX-2 immunoreactivity of NP rat was detected in the cortical thick ascending limb and macula densa. In pregnant rats, the pattern of cellular labeling of COX-2 protein was identical to NP rat, but signal intensity was slightly decreased. These results suggest that the expansion of extracellular fluid volume and water retention may be partly regulated by COX-1 rather than COX-2 during the pregnancy, especially at late stage.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Epithelium ; Extracellular Fluid ; Extremities ; Hemodynamics ; Homeostasis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; Pregnancy ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Proteins ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retention (Psychology) ; RNA, Messenger ; Sodium

The study was performed to measure and compare the peripheral blood T cell and T subsets in normal controls and psoriatic patients. Thirty-two normal controls and fift:en psoriatic patients were subjected to the study and the percentages and the rati vs of peripheral blood T cell and T subsets were measured. The results were as follows: 1. Mean percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes reactive with OKT3 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 72. 8+-8. 2%, They decreased significantl) as compared with these in control group(76, 6- i-4. 7%). Mc an percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes reactive with OKT4 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 47. 3+6, 7p;. They increased as compared with these in control group(46. 5+-3. 9p;), but the increase was insignificant. 3. Mean percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes reactive with OKT8 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 27. 2+5. 5g, They decreased significantly as compared with these in control group(30, 6- l-4. 3%) 4. Mean ratios of lymphocytes reactive with OKT4 monoclonal antibody to these reactive with OKT8 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 1.8+- 0. 48 They increased significantly as compared with these in control group(1. 6+ 0.34).
Allergy and Immunology ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Muromonab-CD3 ; Psoriasis

BACKGROUND: Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetic disorder of the melanin pigment system in which melanin synthesis is reduced or absent in the skin, hair, and eyes. OCA is classified into two major types, and tyrosinase-related OCA can be produced by mutations of the structural gene for tyrosinase enzyme (TYR gene). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the segregation of mutant alleles of the TYR gene in tyrosinase-negative and tyrosinase-positive Korean OCA patients and families. METHODS: We amplified exon I, II, and III of the TYR gene of Korean OCA patients and their families by polymerase chain reactions (PCR), and analyzed the mutations by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in exon I and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses in exon II and exon III. RESULTS: Two tyrosinase-negative cases showed mutations in exon I. Four tyrosinase-nega-tive cases and one tyrosinase-positive case showed mutations in exon II, and one tyrosinase-neg- ative case showed mutations in exon III. In summary, we found three kinds of mutation in four tyrosinase-negative OCA patients and one tyrsinase-positive OCA patient. CONCLUSIONS: RFLP and SSCP analysis can provide a basis for a rapid and sensitive screening system to detect TYR gene mutations of Korean OCA patients and their families.
Albinism, Oculocutaneous* ; Alleles ; Exons ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Melanins ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Skin

No abstract available.
Estrogens* ; Fibrosis*

It is the existence of a polarized distribution of ion transporters and channels which is thought to underlie the vectorial salt movement. The present study was performed to examine the expression and polarized distribution of Na+-K+-ATPase isoforms believed to be essential for salivary secretion in the rat salivary gland using immunohis-tochemistry. Na+-K+-ATPase alpha1 subunit immunoreactivity was prominent in the granular convoluted duct of the submandibular gland, and striated and excretory duct of three major salivary glands. The submandibular ganglion and postganglionic nerve fiber exhibited moderate immunoreactivity, whereas the intercalated duct and acinar cells of major salivary gland were weakly labeled. Na+-K+-ATPase beta1 subunit immunoreactivity was prominent in the granular convoluted duct of the submandibular gland, intercalated duct of the sublingual gland, acinar cells of the parotid gland, and striated and excretory ducts of major salivary gland. The submandibular ganglion, intercalated duct of the submandibular gland, and acinar cells of the sublingual gland exhibited moderate immunoreactivity, whereas acinar cells of the submandibular gland and intercalated duct of the parotid gland were weakly labeled. In these segments, alpha1 and beta1 immunoreactivity was expressed at the basolateral pole, and no apical expression was detected. These results suggest that major salivary glands are comprised of at least two structurally unique Na+-K+-ATPase isoforms, which are participated in primary saliva formation and transport.
Acinar Cells ; Animals ; Ganglion Cysts ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ion Transport ; Nerve Fibers ; Parotid Gland ; Protein Isoforms* ; Rats* ; Saliva ; Salivary Glands* ; Sublingual Gland ; Submandibular Gland

No abstract available.
Knee Joint* ; Knee*

Potassium (K) balance is regulated not only by ion channels and ion transporters, but also by various genes including NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Although mRNA distribution and role of Nrf2 has been studied in hypokalemic kidney, the distribution of Nrf2 and phosphorylated-Nrf2 (p-Nrf2) proteins are not known. The present study was planned to examine the alteration of expression and distribution of Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 protein in the kidney of normal and K-depleted rats using immunohistochemistry. In normal rat kidneys, Nrf2 was highly expressed in the proximal convoluted tubule and proximal straight tubule, moderately in cortical thick ascending limb, and weakly in cortical collecting duct, outer medullary thick ascending limb, and outer medullary collecting duct. In K-depleted groups, the pattern of cellular labeling of Nrf2 protein was identical to that of normal group, but the signal intensity was prominently increased in proximal convoluted tubule and proximal straight tubule especially in rats at K-free diet 3 weeks. In normal rat kidneys, p-Nrf2 was highly expressed in nucleus of cortical thick ascending limb, cortical collecting duct, and glomerular endothelial cell, moderately in distal convoluted tubule and outer medullary collecting duct, and weakly in proximal convoluted tubules and outer medullary thick ascending limb. In K-depleted groups, the pattern of cellular labeling of p-Nrf2 protein was similar to that of normal group, but signal intensity was significantly increased in the nucleus of outer medullary collecting duct from of K-free diet 2 and 3 weeks groups. These results suggest that Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 expression was gradually increased in K-depleted groups of kidney, but Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 expression patterns were not exactly matched. In addition, it is suggested that enhanced expression of Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 in hypokalemic condition may affect the regulation of ion channels and ion transporters and subsequent intracellular signal transduction.
Animals ; Diet ; Endothelial Cells ; Extremities ; Hypokalemia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ion Channels ; Ion Transport ; Kidney* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; Potassium ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction

We report a case of neuroblastoma with multiple skin metastases as a chief complaint in a 2-month-old girl. the skin lesions were rnultiple, pea-sized, bluish, nontender, moable subcutaneous nodules on abdomen, back and scalp. Histopathology showed small round or poly gonal tumor cells which have deeply stained, basophilic, hyperchromatic nuclei with some mitoses. Th.se tumor cells showed clumping tendency which is one of early menifestations of rosette formation. Immunohistochemically positive reaction was demonstrated by anti-NSE(neuron specific enolase) antilody but negative reaction by anti-NFP (neurofilament proteiin ) antibody. She has been succesfully treated with combined chemotherapy for 10 months without relapse.
Abdomen ; Basophils ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Mitosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neuroblastoma* ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; Recurrence ; Rosette Formation ; Scalp ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Neurofibromin 1 ; Vitiligo*