The present study suggests that IL-4 may exert chondroprotective properties against mechanical stress-induced cartilage destruction, at least in part, by inhibiting NO production by chondrocytes.

Myeloid/natural killer (NK) cell precursor acute leukemia is an entity of acute leukemia characterized by poor prognosis and a CD7+CD56+ myeloid antigen+ phenotype without light-microscopic myeloperoxidase reactivity. This disease shares several clinical characteristics with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) M0. To clarify the relationship between these 2 leukemias, we analyzed 105 cases of AML M0. Among them, 17 were CD7+ and CD56+, 77 were negative for either antigen, and 11 could not be determined. CD7+CD56+ AML M0 showed onset at significantly lower patient age (median 46 versus 63 years, P = .004). The disease localization and the hematological manifestations were significantly different: CD7+CD56+ AML showed more frequent extramedullary involvement, fewer circulating leukemic blasts, less anemia, and less thrombocytopenia than did AML M0. The cytogenetic aberrations were also unique, because no 5q abnormalities were found in CD7+CD56+ M0. The prognosis of CD7+CD56+ M0 was poor in patients younger than 46 years (P = .03). Multivariate analysis showed that the CD7+CD56+ phenotype was a significant prognostic factor for AML M0, as well as age, circulating blast percentage, and chromosome 5 abnormalities These findings suggest that AML M0 consists of heterogeneous subgroups to be managed separately, and CD7+CD56+ M0 constitutes a distinct subtype of AML M0.

We aimed to test the effect of transdermal photodynamic therapy (PDT) on synovial proliferation in vitro and in vivo, using a novel photosensitizer, ATX-S10.Na(II). Synovial fibroblasts were obtained from patients with RA (RASF). Cell viability with or without PDT was determined by MTT assay. Cell morphology was examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. DNA fragmentation was labeled by TUNEL stain. Collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) was induced in DBA/1 mice, and the effects of transdermal PDT were evaluated by clinical and histological examination. PDT showed drug concentration-dependent and laser dose-dependent cytotoxicity on RASF. TUNEL stain and TEM study revealed the induction of apoptotic cell death of RASF. Transdermal PDT significantly reduced clinical arthritis and synovial inflammation in this model of arthritis. These results suggest that transdermal PDT using ATX-S10.Na(II) might be a novel less invasive treatment strategy for small joint arthritis and tenosynovitis.

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