Abstract. An immunohistochemical study using monoclonal antibodies specific for the heavy chains ofeither human atrial (HCa) or ventricular (HC(#) myosin was performed to clarify the distribution of each isozyme in normal as well as pressure-overloaded human hearts. In normal human ventricles, all muscle fibers were stained by a monoclonal antibody (HMC14) specific for HC(, whereas a small number of fibers reacted with a monoclonal antibody (CMA19) specific for HCa. In contrast, in normal human atria, almost all muscle fibers were stained by CMA19, and a relatively larger number of muscle fibers also reacted with HMC 14. Furthermore, in pressure-overloaded atria, muscle fibers reactive with HMC14 were strikingly increased while those reactive with CMA 19 showed a corresponding decrease. The extent ofthis isozymic redistribution was in good correlation with atrial pressure. These results not only confirmed the existence of isoforms of myosin heavy chain in human hearts, but also demonstrated that redistribution of isomyosins could occur as an adaptation to pressure overload.

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We developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for antibodies to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), using two new recombinant antigens (c11 and c7) derived from the HCV genome. The performance of this ELISA system (Imucheck HCV Ab) was examined. The CV values for both intra-assay precision and reproducibility of identifying HCV antibody in the panel sera ranged from 3.5% to 6.4%. The blood elements in serum and anticoagulants did not interfere in this ELISA system. The specificity of Imucheck HCV Ab to samples from patients with non-A, non-B (NANB)-type chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma was 93.7%, 93.5%, and 81.4%, respectively. These results are more sensitive than those obtained by the first-generation anti-HCV ELISA system. In the samples from patients with NANB-type acute hepatitis, Imucheck HCV Ab enabled detection of HCV antibodies at an early stage. This system increased the sensitivity for blood donor screening and for monitoring patients with acute hepatitis.

Kjellmaniella crassifolia Miyabe (gagome) is a brown alga. Oral gagome administration (oral gagome) resulted in significant upregulation of IL-10 and IFNγ production by Peyer's patch cells. To assess the adjuvant activity of oral gagome, treated mice were subcutaneously injected with ovalbumin (OVA). The production of cytokines from antigen (Ag)-specific T cells in draining lymph nodes (dLN) and their proliferative response were significantly increased as compared with the control group. These enhancements were associated with increased CD44(hi)CD62L(-) activated/memory T cells in dLN as well as upregulation of Ag-specific IgA level in luminal contents. No upregulation of cytokine production by dLN T cells was observed in dectin-1-deficient mice, suggesting that the effect of gagome on cytokine production is largely dependent on the dectin-1 pathway despite its composite constituents. Our findings indicate that gagome is an effective immunomodulator and a potent adjuvant for both the intestinal and the systemic immune response.