Renal fibrosis is regarded as the common final pathway leading to chronic kidney diseases; macrophages and myofibroblasts play important roles in the development of fibrosis. F344 rats were injected once with cisplatin (CDDP; 6 mg/kg BW) for renal lesions. Here, immunophenotypical characteristics of macrophages and lymphocytes in CDDP-induced rat renal lesions were investigated histopathologically; the CDDP-induced renal lesions consisted of tissue damage at the early-stage, worsen the damage and commencement of interstitial fibrosis at the mid-stage, and progressive fibrosis at the late stage; the KIM-1 expression and α-SMA+ myofibroblast area reflected renal tubular damage/abnormal regeneration and renal interstitial fibrosis, respectively. CD68+ M1 macrophages began to increase at the mid-stage, with increased mRNA expressions of M1-related cytokines (INF-γ, TNF-α and IL-6), and then slightly decreased at the late-stage. CD163+ M2 macrophages showed a gradually increased number at the mid- and late-stages, accompanied by increased TGF-β1 mRNA expression (a fibrogenic factor). Double immunofluorescence using fibrotic samples at the late-stage revealed that 62.0–78.0% of CD68+ M1 macrophages co-expressed CD163, indicating that M1/M2 macrophages may contribute to progressive renal fibrosis in cooperation; further, MHC class II-expressing macrophages had a tendency towards M1 polarization, whereas CD204-expressing macrophages towards M2 polarization. In addition, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were increased at the late-stage. Collectively, progressive renal interstitial fibrosis may be developed by complicated mechanisms that arose via interaction of M1/M2 macrophages (inflammatory for M1 and anti-inflammatory for M2) and T cells reacting to CD4 (for helper) and CD8 (for cytotoxicity). This study would provide some information on the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis based on inflammatory cells.

Temperature changes and their distribution induced by 13.56-MHz radiofrequency (RF) heating of agar phantom and porcine and rabbit liver were investigated. It was possible to produce selective local heating of approximately 50°C in the RF field of 2 × 2 × 2 cm³ of the pig or rabbit liver. Coagulation necrosis after heating became pronounced and the margin between the coagulated lesion and normal tissue became clearer with time. Within 1 week after RF heating at 50°C for 20 min, the coagulated area was replaced selectively and totally by necrotic tissue.

Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering disease characterized by lesions on the skin and mucous membranes. To date, no spontaneous cases of this disease have been reported in cynomolgus monkeys. This report describes the histopathological characteristics of spontaneous pemphigus in a cynomolgus monkey. Macroscopically, redness and scaling with pruritus were observed on the skin of the entire body. Histopathologically, the epidermis showed intercellular edema, and eosinophils and mononuclear cells infiltrated the epidermis. There was no obvious acantholysis in the epidermis.The perivascular area showed edema, and eosinophils and mononuclear cells infiltrated the vessels in the dermis. Immunohistochemically, the intercellular area in the epidermis was positive for Immunoglobulin G and Complement component 3. Serologically, anti-desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3 antibodies in the serum were negative. From these findings, this case was diagnosed as an autoimmune skin disease, suspected to be pemphigus, and concluded as lesions being similar to those in human "pemphigus herpetiformis."

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ABS TRACT. Properties of macrophages and lymphocytes appearing in renal fibrosis remains to be investigated. F344 rats were injected once a week with cisplatin (2 mg/kg body weight) for 8 weeks and examined at post-final injection weeks 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Rats developed progressive renal fibrosis at weeks 1 to 6 as fibrosis-progress phase, and subsequent amelioration at weeks 9 and 12. CD68 + M 1-macrophages and major histocompatibility complex (M HC) class II + macrophages remarkably increased persistently, whereas CD163 + M 2-macrophages slightly increased. M HC class II + /CD68 + and MHC class II + /CD163 + macrophages were present, indicating that M HC class II + macrophages might have both functions of M 1-and M2-macrophages. In the fibrosis-progress phase, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- and interferon (IFN)- for M 1-factors, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-1 and IL-10 for M 2-factors tended to increase; tissue injury by M 1 and fibrosis by M2 might have occurred simultaneously. Lots of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells appeared in close relation with M HC class II + macrophages, and mainly CD4 + T cells formed aggregations. In the lymphocyte aggregates collected by laser microdissection, expression of IL-17A (for Th17 cells) and forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) (for Treg) significantlyincreased at weeks 1 and 6, respectively; presumably, Th17 cells might be involved in tissue injury, whereas Treg might be related to fibrosis amelioration. These results suggested that macrophages and T cells may contribute interrelatedly to renal fibrosis.