Function of Monocytes in the Retired Workers of the Okunojima Poison Gas Factory

Monocyte function of poison gas workers was determined and the following results were obtained. 1) No difference in cytostatic activity could be observed between poison gas workers and their controls. 2) Phagocytic activity of poison gas workers was slightly depressed when compared with that of the controls, but the difference was not significant. By duration of work, it was observed that the group with duration of work exceeding five years had a significantly lower value when compared with the group with duration of work being less than two years. 3) Chemotactic activity of poison gas workers tended to be depressed when compared with that of the controls. The activity tended to be more depressed the longer the duration of work. 4) A significant positive correlation was observed between cytostatic activity and phagocytic activity

Interleukin-2 Production and Lymphocyte Proliferation in Aged and Young Humans

A study was made on the effect of aging on the production of Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and lymphocyte proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. 1) In comparison with young individuals, IL-2 production tended to decrease in aged individuals, while lymphocyte proliferation showed a significant decrease. 2) A significant correlation was observed between IL-2 production and lymphocyte proliferation in both the aged and young human populations. 3) IL-2 production showed a negative correlation with Leu-2a positive rate and a positive correlation with Leu-3a/Leu-2a ratio in aged individuals

Immune Functions of Former Poison Gas Workers I. Mitogenic response of lymphocytes and serum factors

The relation of depressed immune function to carcinogenesis has been estimated in the living body. The authors have measured the immunological parameters in former poison gas workers, a group having a high risk of carcinogenesis, for comparison with age matched normal controls and the following results were obtained. 1) With regard to serum factors, no significant difference could be demonstrated between normal controls and poison gas workers in such immunoglobulins as IgG, IgA, and IgM, in acute phase reactants such as α1-AT, α1-AG, α2-HS and C3 and in such tumor markers as CEA, ferritin, and β2-microglobulin. Furthermore, no difference could be observed in the positive rate of immune complex and in complement activity. 2) No difference could be observed between the two groups with regard to tuberculin skin reaction and number of lymphocytes, but the longer the duration of work at the poison gas factory, the more significant was the increase in those who showed negative tuberculin skin reaction. 3) In comparison with normal controls, mitogenic response to PHA showed a significant decrease in poison gas workers, but no significant difference could be seen in mitogenic response to Con A and PPD and in mixed lymphocyte reaction. 4) No significant difference could be demonstrated between the two groups in the inhibitory effects of serum on mitogenic response to PHA and Con A and on mixed lymphocyte reaction

Detection of Lymphocyte Subsets by Monoclonal Antibodies in Aged and Young Humans

With the use of Leu-series monoclonal antibodies, peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in aged and young humans were determined. 1) In comparison with young individuals, Leu-1+ cells and Leu-2a+ cells were decreased, whereas Leu-7+ cells and Leu-3a/Leu-2a were increased in aged individuals. 2) No sex difference could be observed in lymphocyte subsets. 3) PHA response of lymphocytes showed a negative correlation with Leu-2a+ cells and a positive correlation with Leu-3a/Leu-2a in aged individuals

The roles of metformin and pravastatin on placental endoplasmic reticulum stress and placental growth factor in human villous-Like trophoblastic BeWo cells

Preeclampsia (PE) is related to an imbalance of angiogenic factors. Placental growth factor (PlGF) is reduced in early onset PE. Recent evidence indicates that metformin and statins may suppress endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We previously reported that the unfolded protein response activated by ER stress down-regulated PlGF protein expression and predicted these drugs could prevent placental ER stress and up-regulate PlGF protein expression in trophoblast-like cells. In this study, we aimed to establish the effects of these drugs on PlGF and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) protein expression. We confirmed that PlGF messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were decreased under ER stress induced by thapsigargin and that ATF4 mRNA was increased under the same conditions and then administered metformin to it. Transcript analysis showed increased PlGF mRNA compared with thapsigargin only treatment and that this was dependent on metformin levels. Under ER stress, western blot showed high levels of ATF4 and phosphorylated-eukaryotic initiation factor 2 subunit α (p-eIF2α) but low levels of PlGF protein. By contrast, compared with thapsigargin alone, ATF4 and p-eIF2α levels were low and PlGF levels were high when metformin and thapsigargin were given, but these were again dependent on metformin concentrations. Western blot also confirmed that pravastatin attenuated ER stress and increased PlGF protein expression. In conclusion, metformin and pravastatin suppressed ER stress and restored PlGF levels in trophoblast-like cells. However, although these results indicate that these drugs have a potential for preventing or treating PE, the lack of clarity on the mechanism requires further study