Primary in vivo T cell reactivity of NZB grafts in H-2 identical allogenic hosts.

By means of the Simonson GVH-assay and the popliteal lymph node (PLN) assay, the T-cell reactivity of NZB mice against H-2 identical allogenic cells was investigated in vivo and compared to that of normal mice. None of the normal mice did react, but a highly significant NZB response could be demonstrated, which did not depend on differences in Mls antigens. These in vivo results extend previous findings of a T-cell hyperreactivity of NZB mice in primary in vitro reactions. They favour the possibility that the T-cell hyperreactivity might be relevant in vivo in facilitating autoimmune responses.

Equal distribution of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in thymus and spleen cells of NZB and BALB/c mice

NZB mice develop an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. Since the detection of immunoregulatory T-cells it has been speculated that disbalances of these cells may be important in the course of the NZB disease. By utilization of monoclonal antibody defining immunoregulatory Lyt subsets and a FACS IV system we investigated whether differences in the number and/or marker densities of given subsets exist between NZB and the normal reference strain BALB/c. Newborn animals and animals up to 60 weeks of age were tested. No significant difference in the percentages nor in the marker densities of theta+, Lyt 1+, and Lyt 2+ cells was observed at any age or sex, neither in spleen nor in thymus. It…

Third Eular Workshop on Rheumatology Research

Weitere Untersuchungen zur Entstehung der T-Zell-Hyperreaktivität in NZB-Mäusen

NZB-Mause und von ihr abgeleitete NZBxNZW-Hybriden entwickeln spontan eine in Klinik und Pathophysiologie dem humanen SLE sehr ahnliche Erkrankung. Die auffalligen Parallelen zwischen diesem Tiermodell und humanen Autoimmunerkrankungen begrunden die Hoffnung, das in diesem Modell gewonnene Erkenntnisse zu einem besseren Verstandnis und letztlich zu einer effektiveren Therapie der humanen Autoimmunerkrankungen beitragen konnen.

Kinetics of the reactive cell clones after immunosuppression and induction of tolerance. II. Different recovery of 19 S and 7 S plaque-forming cells after induction of tolerance

By the aid of two alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide (CP) and 036.5122, (Asta), applied after a single dose of antigen, tolerance to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), has been induced in NMRI mice. Duration and characteristics of recovery were followed by a second antigenic challenge at various time intervals and by determination of 19 S and 7 S plaque-forming cells (PFC) 4 days later. During recovery from the tolerant state two phases of responsiveness could be differentiated: an early phase with no or markedly reduced numbers of total PFC, all of them being of the IgM type; a later phase with a steady increase in total PFC up to normal values, paralleled by an increase in the proportion of 7…

Studies on the mechanism of PMN activation II. by triggering the alternative pathway of complement activation

By means of cobra venom factor (CVF) it is demonstrated that the stimulation of hexosemonophosphate shunt (HMPS) of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) by zymosan (Z) and dextran sulfate (DS) is caused by at least two modes of activation: (a) via activation caused by phagocytosis, (b) via activated alternative pathway of complement activation (APC). Active factors of APC presented with phagocytizable objects strongly enhance activation of PMN. The effect of APC can be observed in serum-containing as well as in serum-free cultures. It can be demonstrated that in serum-free cultures the factors of APC participating in the activation of PMN are supplied by monocytes. By the use of synthet…

T-cell hyperreactivity of NZB mice against H-2 identical cells

NZB mice serve as a model for human systemic lupus erythematodes. T-cell abnormalities in this strain have previously been described. In this paper the cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor (CTL-p) frequencies of NZB mice against H-2 allogeneic and H-2 syngeneic cells are investigated and compared with those of the normal strain BALB/c. The CTL-p frequency in NZB lymphocytes against H-2 allogeneic cells equals that in normal mouse strains (i.e. 1/7500). The NZB anti BALB/c response is in the same order of magnitude. No corresponding BALB/c anti NZB response was elicited. The results suggest abnormally high sensitivity of NZB CTL-p to helper signals.

Lymphocyte subpopulations in solvent-exposed workers.

To estimate the cellular immune response of workers highly exposed to mixtures of organic solvents, subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were analyzed. For this, the PBLs of nine floorers (aged 25–58 years, exposure time 8–35 years) were subsequently labelled with monoclonal antibodies OKT 4, OKT 8, OKT 11, anti-Leu 7 and anti-Leu 12. Analysis was made by a FACS IV cell sorter (Becton-Dickinson, USA). The control group consisted of matched pairs of healthy donors. In the exposed group we found a decrease in the OKT 11 (all) T cell fraction, a decrease in the OKT 4 helper cells, an increase in the anti-Leu 7 positive cells, mostly natural killer cells, an important increase …

Studies on the mechanism of PMN activation III. by lymphokines.

The influence of a guinea pig lymphokine preparation on the oxidative metabolism of human and guinea pig granulocytes of various sources was investigated. A dose-dependent increase of the oxidative burst following lymphokine challenge was observed. It occurred in unstimulated guinea pig peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and in prestimulated PMN obtained from the peritoneal cavity after glycogen injection as well. The lymphokine effect on the oxidative metabolism is not species-restricted because the guinea pig lymphokine preparation elicits an oxidative burst in human PMN, too. The increase caused by lymphokines is nearly of the same order of magnitude as that obtained with zymo…

Inhibition of T cell activityin vivo: a test model for quantitative evaluation

A test model is presented which, in comparison with the conventional models of skin transplantation or graft-versus-host (GvH) reaction in mice, permits a more sensitive quantitative evaluation of T cell inhibition in vivo. Prospective donors (type AA) are immunized with prospective recipient material (type AB); the resulting T cell reaction of A versus B is inhibited by consecutive treatment. Extent of inhibition can be evaluated after transfer of the pretreated AA material onto AB recipients by calculation of remaining GvH reactivity, if compared to adequate control tranfers. In this model the target animal for T cell reactivity (the AB recipient) remains untouched from immunosuppressive …

Studies on the mechanism of PMN activation. I. By dextran sulfates.

Evidence is presented that enhanced reduction of the dye nitroblue-tetrazolium (NBT) by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) which are stimulated by dextran sulfates (DS) is not exclusively due to the phagocytosis of particles formed by NBT and DS. Not only the size of phagocytizable particles but the degree of substitution determines the acceleration of NBT-reduction. A likely cause of this acceleration is the triggering of the alternative pathway of the complement activation.

Increased helper cell activity of NZB mice against H-2-identical allogeneic cells.

The T cells of NZB mice become hyperreactive after stimulation with minor histocompatibility (MIH) antigens. This hyperreactivity has previously been demonstrated only for cytotoxic T cells of NZB, although there was some evidence for an increase of their T-helper cell activity facilitating the response. Here we report a quantitative analysis of T-cell help and help of T-cell subpopulations against autologous, MIH, and H-2 antigens in a limiting dilution assay. After stimulation of NZB T cells with autologous and H-2 antigens, the T-helper cell frequencies did not differ from that of normal mice. After stimulation with MIH antigens however, Lyt 1<sup>+</sup>2<sup>+</sup…

Quantitative Untersuchungen zur Hemmung von Granulozyten- und Makrophagenfunktionen durch steroidale und nicht-steroidale Antirheumatika in vitro

Granulozyten und Makrophagen spielen eine erhebliche Rolle in der korpereigenen Abwehr und pragen grostenteils die klinische Symptomatik entzundlicher Erkrankungen. Diese Zellen zirkulieren normalerweise in einem Zustand relativer metabolischer Ruhe im peripheren Blut. Ihre Aktivitat ist sprunghaft gesteigert, wenn sie an einem entzundlichen Geschehen beteiligt sind. Hier werden sie zur Synthese und Freisetzung von Entzundungsmediatoren aktiviert und treten zum Teil in Kooperation mit T- und B-Zellen.