Among galectin family members, galectin-9 was first described as a potent eosinophil chemoattractant derived from Ag-stimulated T cells. In the present study a role of galectin-9 in the interaction between eosinophils and fibroblasts was investigated using a human lung fibroblast cell line, HFL-1. RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and Western blot analyses revealed that both galectin-9 mRNA and protein in HFL-1 cells were up-regulated by IFN-γ stimulation. On the one hand, IL-4, known as a Th2 cytokine, did not affect the galectin-9 expression in HFL-1 cells. We further confirmed that IFN-γ up-regulated the expression of galectin-9 in primary human dermal fibroblasts. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that IFN-γ up-regulated surface galectin-9 expression on HFL-1 cells. Stimulation of HFL-1 cells with IFN-γ up-regulated adhesion of eosinophils, but not neutrophils, to HFL-1 cells. This adherence of eosinophils to HFL-1 cells was inhibited by both lactose and anti-galectin-9 Ab. These findings demonstrate that IFN-γ-induced galectin-9 expression in fibroblasts mediates eosinophil adhesion to the cells, suggesting a crucial role of galectin-9 in IFN-γ-stimulated fibroblasts as a physiological modulator at the inflammatory sites.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether Tc-hexakis-2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ( Tc-MIBI) or Tl single photon emission tomography (SPET) could detect recurrent tumours in patients with previous radiation therapy for brain tumours. Dual SPET with Tc-MIBI and Tl was performed in 21 patients suspected of having recurrent brain tumours. SPET images were acquired 15 min (early) and 2 h (delayed) after injection. The ratio of the average counts for the region of interest in the lesion area and its mirror image in normal brain tissue was obtained. Early and delayed ratios were calculated. On the basis of histological and/or clinical findings, the final diagnosis was considered as recurrent tumours in 15 patients and radiation necrosis in six. Both ratios using Tc-MIBI and Tl were significantly higher in recurrent tumours than in radiation necrosis. Based on a cut-off of 5.89 of the early ratio using Tc-MIBI to distinguish between recurrent tumours and radiation necrosis, the accuracy was 90%. Based on a cut-off of 6.77 of the delayed ratio using Tc-MIBI, the accuracy was 86%. The corresponding values using cut-offs of 2.40 and 1.85 with Tl were 90% and 86%, respectively. However, within recurrent tumours, both ratios for Tc-MIBI were significantly higher than those for Tl. Early Tc-MIBI SPET may be especially useful for the detection of recurrent tumours in patients who have previously undergone radiation therapy for brain tumours.

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Pyothorax-associated lymphoma (PAL) is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma developing in the pleural cavity after a long-standing history of chronic pyothorax (CP). F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging is a useful modality for determination of disease extent of various malignant tumors, including malignant lymphoma, but there have been no reports describing the usefulness of FDG-PET imaging in PAL. Here we report a case of PAL that relapsed after chemotherapy and was successfully treated by radiotherapy. FDG-PET imaging revealed that the tumor was localized to a soft-tissue attenuation mass behind the CP cavity in the right thorax, but did not infiltrate the CP cavity. A total dose of 40 Gy was administered to the area that included the PET-positive lesion, instead of including the entire CP cavity in the radiation field. Although computed tomography (CT) showed a residual mass, no FDG uptake was indicated by FDG-PET imaging performed just after the end of radiotherapy, and additional irradiation was not performed. No sign of relapse was found by FDG-PET imaging 3 months later. FDG-PET imaging was useful for both the planning of radiotherapy and assessing the treatment response of PAL.

The results of this study show a high rate of simultaneous primary tumour in patients with primary head and neck cancer. FDG PET appears to be a promising imaging modality for the detection of simultaneous tumours in head and neck cancer patients.