0000000000312453

AUTHOR

A. Bellavia

Effcts of Dextran Sulphate (Dxs) on Lymphocyte Localization in Complement-Deficient Mice: Evidence that the Fifth Component of Complement is not Implicated in the Dxs Activity

AbstractThe effects of subcutaneously or intraperitoneally administered dextran sulphate (DXS) (5nmg/kg) on the subseguent 1 h localization of intravenously injected radiolabelled lymph node cells was investigated in complement deficient mice which lack C5.DXS proved to be equally as potent in depressing cell localizzation in deficient as compared to normal mice. These findings. indicate that the terminal complement components are not, essential for DXS activity.

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Impaired contact hypersensitivity to trinitrochlorobenzene in interleukin-4-deficient mice

We have examined the role of endogenously produced interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the contact hypersensitivity (CH) reaction to the haptene trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB). The CH reaction was abolished in IL-4 genetically deficient mice (IL-4 KO), when compared to wild-type (wt) mice. The CH reaction was restored by treatment with IL-4 and further analysis revealed that IL-4 exerted its action both at the induction and effector stages of the CH reaction. Despite failure to develop a CH reaction, IL-4 KO mice developed a T helper type 1 (Th1) response to TNCB, in terms of lymphokine production in vitro. Furthermore, the number of Vgamma3+ cells accumulating in the lymph nodes of TNCB-immune IL-4 KO m…

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Delayed-type skin reactions in bursectomized or thymectomized chickens.

Chickens can easily be induced to develop delayed-type skin reactions to oxazolone when animals are sensitized 7 days before the challenge. The reaction is quantitated by assessing the increase in wattle thickness: maximum reactions occur 24 h after challenge. The reaction is inhibited by neonatal thymectomy or bursectomy; these findings therefore suggest also an important B-derived component in delayed hypersensitivity to oxazolone.

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Contact sensitivity to oxazolone in the chicken: evidence for Arthus type hypersensitivity of the cutaneous reaction.

Cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction can be induced in chickens by skin painting with oxazolone, 33 mg/Kg of body weight (KBW). The B cell contribution to the generation of the cutaneous reaction has been a matter of controversy. In an attempt to characterize this reaction we placed special interest on the possibility that the nature of this reaction could be Arthus type hypersensitivity. From the kinetics study on the cutaneous hypersensitivity after challenge with oxazolonated egg-albumin (EA-OX) it was excluded that the nature of this reaction could be delayed type hypersensitivity. Immune sera transfer experiments demonstrated that the cutaneous reaction was antibody dependent. Serum ant…

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In vivo cimetidine immunomodulatory effects on the cutaneous reaction to oxazolone in the chicken.

The effect of the histamine H2-receptor antagonist, cimetidine, on the cutaneous Arthus-like hypersensitivity to oxazolone elicited injecting subcutaneously oxazolone conjugated to egg-albumin (EA-OX) has been examined in the chicken. Cimetidine had opposite effects on the cutaneous reaction to oxazolone in relation to a different immunization schedule. Cimetidine enhanced the cutaneous reaction to oxazolone obtained immunizing chickens with oxazolone dissolved in ethanol (Eth-OX); instead cimetidine inhibited the cutaneous reaction obtained in chickens immunized with oxazolone dissolved in complete Freund adjuvant (CFA-OX). Optimum enhancement of the cutaneous arthus-like reaction to oxazo…

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Three cell subsets are required for the transfer of delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction by antigen-specific T cell lines.

Antigen (trinitrochlorobenzene)-specific T cell lines were obtained by repeated stimulation of lymph node cells from immune mice with antigen in vitro. These T cell lines, consisting of more than 90% CD4+ Vbeta8.2+ and 6 to 9% gammadelta+ T lymphocytes, transfer contact sensitivity (CS) locally when injected at the same site as the challenge antigen, but fail to mediate a systemic passive transfer when injected i.v. Injection of T cell lines together with spleen cells from mice immunized 1 day beforehand (1-day cells) allowed a successful, specific systemic transfer of CS. Phenotypic analysis showed that the 1-day immune cell was alphabeta+, gammadelta-, sIg-, CD3+, CD4-, CD8-, CD5+, B220 (…

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Augmented Passive Transfer of Contact Sensitivity in Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Mice and Its Dependence of Vβ8<sup>+</sup> Cells in the Picryl System

The passive transfer of contact sensitivity using picryl chloride immune cells from H-2 syngenic BALB/c donors was analyzed in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice which lack functional T and B lymphocytes. H-2-restricted and antigen-specific contact sensitivity was transferred to SCID mice, and comparison between the level of contact sensitivity and the number of transferred cells showed a significantly more efficient transfer to SCID than to BALB/c mice. The cells passively transferring contact sensitivity were shown to carry the Vβ8 phenotype. Moreover, chromium-labeled cells from BALB/c PC1-primed donors localize normally in peripheral lymphoid organs, and an increased percentag…

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Carcinoembryonic Antigen as a Monitor in Breast Cancer

: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were serially determined in 125 patients with breast cancer in order to study the diagnostic and prognostic use of serum CEA levels before and/or after surgery and during treatment with hormonal and chemotherapy. Serum CEA levels were elevated in 15.5% of nonmetastatic patients. Carcinoembryonic antigen increased according to stage (TNM classification); and a direct relationship between positive CEA levels and subsequent recurrence was found. After a three-year postoperative interval a 50% survival rate was exhibited in CEA-positive patients vs an 88% survival rate in those patients found to be CEA negative. There is a definite correlation between the…

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