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Numerous endothelial progenitor cell (EPC)-related investigations have been performed in mouse experiments. However, defined characteristics of mouse cultured EPC have not been examined. We focused on fast versus slow adherent cell population in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) in culture and examined their characteristics. After 24 h-culture of BMMNCs, attached (AT) cells and floating (FL) cells were further cultured in endothelial differentiation medium separately. Immunological and molecular analyses exhibited more endothelial-like and less monocyte/macrophage-like characteristics in FL cells compared with AT cells. FL cells formed thick/stable tube and hypoxia or shear stress overload further enhanced these endothelial-like features with increased angiogenic cytokine/growth factor mRNA expressions. Finally, FL cells exhibited therapeutic potential in a mouse myocardial infarction model showing the specific local recruitment to ischemic border zone and tissue preservation. These findings suggest that slow adherent (FL) but not fast attached (AT) BMMNCs in culture are EPC-rich population in mouse.

We describe herein a case of asymptomatic primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus. A 65-year-old man presented with a 4-cm ®lling defect in the middle third of the esophagus on a routine barium swallow. Subtotal esophagectomy accompanied by lymph node dissection was performed through a right thoracotomy. Postoperatively, the patient received ®ve cycles of systemic chemotherapy with dacarbazine (DTIC), nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU), and vincristine (VCR) (DAV therapy), but ultimately died of generalized metastatic disease 15 months after surgery. Malignant melanoma of the esophagus has an extremely poor prognosis despite various therapeutic eorts.

A case of T‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia is reported. The leukemic cells had the morphologic features of medium‐sized, mature‐looking lymphocytes, and had an affinity for the central nervous system. Cytochemically, they were positive for alpha‐naphthyl acetate esterase and acid phosphatase. They formed E‐rosettes (E+) and reacted with OKT11 but not with OKT3/Leu‐4, OKT4/Leu‐3, OKT8/Leu‐2, or OKM1, and did not possess IgG‐Fc receptors (FcγR). Functionally, they did not respond to phytohemagglutinin or concanavalin A, and were not natural killer cells or antibody‐dependent as well as alloantigen‐reactive killer cells. Furthermore, they did not possess a helper or suppressor T‐cell function for immunoglobulin synthesis. Results of immunologic studies suggest that the leukemic cells were derived from a normal counterpart of a lymphocyte subset present as a minor component of the peripheral blood, namely an E+, OKT3‐, OKM1‐, FcγR‐ subset, the function of which is not yet identified.

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