Activation Of Humoral Immunity Research Articles

What Causes Biliary Atresia? Unique Aspects of the Neonatal Immune System Provide Clues to Disease Pathogenesis

Biliary atresia (BA) is the most frequent identifiable cause of neonatal cholestasis, and the majority of patients will need liver transplantation for survival. Despite surgical intervention with the Kasai portoenterostomy, significant fibrosis and cirrhosis develop early in life. An increased understanding of what causes this inflammatory fibrosing cholangiopathy will lead to therapies aimed at protecting the intrahepatic biliary system from immune-mediated damage. This review focuses on studies pertaining to the role of the adaptive immune response in bile duct injury in BA, including cellular and humoral immunity. The neonatal presentation of BA prompts the question of what potential modifications of unique aspects of the neonatal immune system set the stage for the progressive biliary disease. This review also discusses the characteristics of neonatal immune response and the theories on how alterations of this response could contribute to the pathogenesis of BA. These include aberrant type 1 helper T-cell (TH1) and TH17 responses, deficiencies in regulatory T cells, activation of humoral immunity, and autoimmunity. To advance our understanding of the etiology of BA, future studies should focus on the unique aspects of the neonatal immune system that have gone awry.

IMMUNE STATUS OF ALBINO RATS UNDER EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION CAUSED BY Salmonella cholera suis AT SUBACUTE T-2 TOXICOSIS

Modern animal husbandry is faced with ecological problems, caused by micotoxine feed contamination, presence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms (Escherichia, Salmonella, coccal microflora, etc.) and various xenobiotics of physical and chemical nature in the animal environment. Total impact of commercial farm immunopathogenic factors on the animals is of particular concern. Therefore, combination of T-2 toxin and Salmonella cholerae suis impact on the albino rats’ immune status was experimentally studied. The researches made stated that salmonella contamination against the background of subacute T-2 toxin was accompanied by significant changes of gemomorphological and immune statuses. Evident neutrophilia onset in animals was accompanied by IL-1β concentration increase. Insignificant increase of humoral (serum bactericidal activity, SBA) nonspecific immunity was determined by synergistic effect of toxin and infectious agent. Complementary blood serum activity, which was necessary for the increase of organism’s resistance to intoxication, increased in proportion to the toxin and salmonella doses increase. Contamination of albino rats by both doses of infectious agent against the background of T-2 toxicosis was accompanied by the increase in preantibodies titer, significant decrease in phagocytic activity of leukocytes (PAL), phagocytic number (PN), phagocytic index (PI), and also in lysozyme content, which were the first line of organism protection, and evident suppression of T-lymphocytes, especially in animals, induced by a higher dose of salmonella. The decrease of T-cells number was accompanied by a lower IL-2 blood concentration. T-2 fed to rats against the background of salmonella intoxication promoted enhancement of humoral immunity stimulation. It was accompanied by the increase of B-lymphocytes (percent) differentiation, blood concentration of common immunoglobulins and induction of antisalmonella antibodies and was also accompanied by C-reactive protein appearance in blood, which revealed inflammatory process development. The obtained experimental data prove an imbalance between functioning of the animals’ protective systems under ecological problems simulated by toxicant and potential pathogen, which are characterized by suppression of protein synthesis, T-link of the immune system, decrease of IL-2 level, phagocytosis, increase of immunoglobulins catabolism, lysozyme and per contra by the increase of complement system proteins content, IL-1β, activation of humoral immunity, IL-4 production, leukocytosis, neutrophilia and acute-phase protein biosynthesis (APPB).

Suppression of splenic lymphocyte proliferation by Eucommia ulmoides and genipin.

We investigated the modulation of innate and adaptive immune cell activation by Eucommia ulmoides Oliver extract (EUE) and its ingredient genipin. As an innate immunity indicator, the phagocytic activity of macrophages was determined by measuring engulfed, fluorescently labeled Escherichia coli. As a surrogate marker for the respective activation of cellular and humoral adaptive immunity, concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction of primary splenocyte proliferation was assayed in in vitro and ex vivo systems. EUE and genipin suppressed the proliferation of primary splenic lymphocytes induced by Con A or LPS, but not macrophage phagocytosis. Oral administration of EUE and genipin to mice decreased splenic lymphocyte proliferation induced by Con A or LPS. These results revealed that E. ulmoides and genipin suppressed cellular and humoral adaptive immunity, and they suggest that E. ulmoides and genipin are promising candidates for immunosuppressive drugs that target diseases that involve excessive activation of adaptive immunity.

IFN-β treatment requires B cells for efficacy in neuroautoimmunity.

IFN-β remains the most widely prescribed treatment for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Despite widespread use of IFN-β, the therapeutic mechanism is still partially understood. Particularly, the clinical relevance of increased B cell activity during IFN-β treatment is unclear. In this article, we show that IFN-β pushes some B cells into a transitional, regulatory population that is a critical mechanism for therapy. IFN-β treatment increases the absolute number of regulatory CD19(+)CD24(++)CD38(++) transitional B cells in peripheral blood relative to treatment-naive and Copaxone-treated patients. In addition, we found that transitional B cells from both healthy controls and IFN-β-treated MS patients are potent producers of IL-10, and that the capability of IFN-β to induce IL-10 is amplified when B cells are stimulated. Similar changes are seen in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. IFN-β treatment increases transitional and regulatory B cell populations, as well as IL-10 secretion in the spleen. Furthermore, we found that IFN-β increases autoantibody production, implicating humoral immune activation in B cell regulatory responses. Finally, we demonstrate that IFN-β therapy requires immune-regulatory B cells by showing that B cell-deficient mice do not benefit clinically or histopathologically from IFN-β treatment. These results have significant implications for the diagnosis and treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

Comparative analysis of cellular immune responses and cytokine levels in sheep experimentally infected with bluetongue virus serotype 1 and 8

Protective immunity in sheep with bluetongue virus (BTV) infection as well as the role of BTV-induced cytokines during immune response remains unclear. Understanding the basis immunological mechanisms in sheep experimentally infected with serotypes 1 and 8 (BTV-1 and -8) was the aim of this study. A time-course study was carried out in order to evaluate cell-mediated immune response and serum concentrations of cytokines (IL-1β, TNFα, IL-12, IFNγ, IL-4 and IL-10) with inflammatory and immunological functions. Depletion of T cell subsets (mainly CD4+, γδ and CD25+) together with the absence of cytokines (IFNγ and IL-12) involved in the regulation of cell-mediated antiviral immunity at the first stage of the disease suggested that both BTV-1 and BTV-8 might impair host's capability against primary infections which would favor viral replication and spreading. However, cellular immune response and cytokines elicited an immune response in sheep that efficiently reduced viremia in the final stage of the experiment. Recovery of T cell subsets (CD4+ and CD25+) together with a significant increase of CD8+ T lymphocytes in both infected groups were observed in parallel with the decrease of viremia. Additionally, the recovery of CD4+ T lymphocytes together with the significant increase of IL-4 serum levels at the final stage of the experiment might contribute to humoral immune response activation and neutralizing antibodies production against BTV previously described in the course of this experiment. These results suggested that both cellular and humoral immune response may contribute to protective immunity against BTV-1 and BTV-8 in sheep. The possible role played by IL-10 and CD25+ cells in controlling inflammatory and immune response in the final stage of the experiment has also been suggested.

The application of normobaric hypoxytherapy for the subclinical hypothyroidism

At present, there is no uniform approach to the treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH). The objective of the present study was to estimate the influence of normobaric hypoxytherapy on the thyroid status and immunological characteristics of the patients presenting with subclinical hypothyroidism. The study involved 140 patients at the age varying from 18 to 60 years suffering from SH associated with autoimmune thyroiditis: 75 of them underwent a course of hypoxytherapy, the remaining 65 patients comprised the control group. The changes in the immune status of the patients with SH were apparent as the depression of cellular immunity and activation of humoral immunity which confirmed the autoimmune nature of the disease. Hypoxytherapy caused positive changes in the immune status of the patients in the form of increased number of CD3+ and CD(8+)-cells, reduction of the number of CD(4+)-cells, and the normalization of the immunoregulatory index. The evaluation of the parameters of humoral immunity has demonstrated normalization of the total B-lymphocyte content along with the level of serum IgA, IgM, IgG, reduction of circulating immune complexes and anti-thyroid antibodies. These changes promoted the recovery of the thyroid function that manifested itself as the normalization of the blood thyroid-stimulating hormone level. It is concluded that hypoxytherapy can be recommended as monotherapy for the treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism as a tool for the influence on the key components of pathogenesis of this disease and prevention of the manifestation of its clinically expressed form.

Global stability analysis of humoral immunity virus dynamics model including latently infected cells

In this paper, we propose and analyse a virus dynamics model with humoral immune response including latently infected cells. The incidence rate is given by Beddington–DeAngelis functional response. We have derived two threshold parameters, the basic infection reproduction number and the humoral immune response activation number which completely determined the basic and global properties of the virus dynamics model. By constructing suitable Lyapunov functions and applying LaSalle's invariance principle we have proven that if , then the infection-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable (GAS), if , then the chronic-infection equilibrium without humoral immune response is GAS, and if , then the chronic-infection equilibrium with humoral immune response is globally asymptotically stable. These results are further illustrated by numerical simulations.

Influence of β-glucan Leiber(®)Beta-S on selected innate immunity parameters of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in an intensive farming system.

Nutritional support plays an important role in promoting high cellular and humoral innate immunity activity and in preventing outbreaks of disease. The effects of β-glucan Leiber®Beta-S dietary supplementation on selected nonspecific immune parameters in juvenile European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in an intensive culture system were studied. The fish were fed commercial pellets containing either 0 (control group) or 200 mg Leiber®Beta-S kg-1 of feed (glucan-fed group). After four and eight weeks of feeding, the levels of the following immunological parameters were measured: phagocyte respiratory burst activity, phagocyte potential killing activity, lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by concanavaline A or lipopolysaccharide, serum lysozyme activity, and total immunoglobulin (Ig) serum levels.After four and eight weeks of feeding 200 mg Leiber®Beta-S kg feed-1 the levels of all immune parameters were statistically significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the glucan-treated group than in the control group.After eight weeks of feeding the fish 200 mg Leiber®Beta-S kg feed-1 and after an additional eight weeks in ponds, the levels of all immune parameters, excluding lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by concanavaline A, were statistically significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the glucan-fed group than in the control group. These data suggest that feeding juvenile eel Leiber®Beta-S for four and eight weeks might improve innate immunity.

Evidence for peripheral immune activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

There is evidence of the activity of immune system in the spinal cords of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), however; few studies to date have explored the status of peripheral immune response in ALS patients. Blood samples from 284 ALS patients and 217 aged-match controls were evaluated, and parameters of T cell subset, humoral immunity, and complement system activation were observed. CD4+ T lymphocytes and circulating immune complexes (CICs) were significantly decreased, and component C3 was significantly increased in ALS patients compared with normal controls. Patients with severe or moderate impairment had a higher CD4+ T cell percentage and a lower IgG levels when compared to those with mild impairment. There was an inverse correlation between CD4 T cell percentage and both revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) score and disease duration, but the correlation was positive between IgG level and both ALSFRS-R score and disease duration among ALS patients. These correlations were gender-specific. This investigation demonstrated the existence of peripheral immune abnormalities in ALS patients.

Antiviral activity of the inducible humoral immunity and its suppression by eleven BEN family members encoded in Cotesia plutellae bracovirus

Upon parasitization by some endoparasitoids, polydnaviruses (PDVs) play a crucial role in inducing host immunosuppression. This study reports a novel immunosuppressive activity against humoral immune responses by BEN family genes encoded in Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV). A total of 11 BEN family members are encoded in 10 different CpBV DNA segments. When the CpBV segments were individually injected, specific BEN genes were expressed and suppressed the expression of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) and prophenoloxidase genes following bacterial challenge. The suppressive activities of the BEN genes were reversed by injection of the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) specific to each BEN gene. The suppression of the AMP gene expressions by the BEN genes was also confirmed using an inhibition zone assay against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial growth. The significance of the suppressive activity of BEN genes against humoral immune responses was analyzed in terms of suppression of antiviral activity by the host humoral immunity. When CpBV was incubated with the plasma obtained from the larvae challenged with bacteria, the immunized plasma severely impaired the expression activity of the viral genes. However, an expression of BEN gene significantly rescued the viral gene expression by suppressing humoral immune response. These results suggest that BEN family genes of CpBV play a crucial role in defending the antiviral response of the parasitized Plutella xylostella by inhibiting humoral immune responses.

IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH MONOINFECTION BY HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS AND IN PATIENTS CO-INFECTED BY PAPILLOMAVIRUS AND UROGENITAL PATHOGENS

Aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of cellular and humoral immunity and functional activity of neutrophilic granulocytes in women with monoinfection by human papillomavirus and combination of human papillomavirus (HPVI) and urogenital pathogens (UGI). It was established that more serious disorders in the immune system in women were revealed in case of mixed HPVI and UGI in compare with case of monoinfection by human papillomavirus. Only in patients with combined HPVI and UGI the content of total lymphocytes, T-cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes was reduced. In patients with combined HPVI and UGI the humoral immunity was characterised by increased concentration of IgM, its level of relative synthesis and content of circulating immune complexes. Independently of the infection type in women the reduction of CD4+ lymphocytes, NK-cells, increased number of γδТ-lymphocytes, as well as increase the functional activity of blood neutrophils have been detected. However, in case of combined HPVI and UGI an inhibitory effect on the reserve capacities of phagocytic cells was revealed.

THE FEATURES OF BLOOD IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH VARIOUS FORMS OF BRUCELLOSIS

Abstract. Results of current study have shown that acute brucellosis is characterized by increase of T-helper and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and decrease of phagocytic activity of neutrophyls in the blood. In patients with chronic form of disease the decline of T-helper and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes together with activation of humoral immunity and increasing of B-lymphocytes and levels of immunoglobulins A and G have been observed. Thus, revealed changes indicating the formation of secondary immunodeficiency in chronic disease course. Results of the study confirmed the needs for a permanent immunological monitoring of patients with brucellosis as well as conducting a comprehensive immunological testing of patients to develop the individual scheme of corrective therapy.

Laws of changes of immune status of mother and child at pregnancy prolongation, complicated by premature rupture of amniotic membranes

Purpose and tasks: to establish new prognostic criteria of date of prolongation of pregnancy with premature discharge of amniotic fluid on the basis of performance monitoring of cell immunity of mother in the dynamics of observation and the child at the time of completion childbirth. Material and methods. A clinical and laboratory examination of 50 pregnant women, the pregnancy of women was complicated by premature rupture of membranes at 22-34 weeks of gestation. The control group consisted of 40 women with normal pregnancy with the same time of gestation. The traditional methods of clinical and laboratory examination were used to assess the status of pregnant women. The study of peripheral blood was performed with hematological analyzer BC- 3000+. Subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes was studied by cytometry using monoclonal antibodies (apparatus «FAC SCalibur» company «BectonDickinson», USA). Results. The development of leukocytosis with absolute and relative lymphopenia, reduction of CD16+56+lymphocytes and CD19 B lymphocytes were revealed in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes. The failure of proliferative activity CD3+4+ T-helper cells, the increase of level of CD3+8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes were revealed at the time of onset of labor after the prolongation of pregnancy. Prolongation of pregnancy at patients with premature rupture of membranes combined with the development of leukocytosis in the fetus, as well as the mother in the same period of observation. At the same time, unlike the parent organism, activation of B-lymphocyte proliferation and humoral immunity at fetus were occurred.

TRADITIONAL AND CASCADE PLASMAPHERESIS IN ANTIBODY TITERS’ REDUCTION IN RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Introduction . One of the current tasks of transplantology is to overcome «graft-host» immune confl ict. Partially this confl ict is caused by the presence of circulating pre-existing antibodies. Highly sensitized patients have a greater risk of rejection and subsequent graft loss. There are several methods to remove the antibodies, one of which is a double fi ltration plasmapheresis (DFPF). This report presents our experience of DFPF in recipients of high immunologic risk. Aim : to compare the effectiveness of traditional and double filtration plasmapheresis in desensitization of patients with high risk of immunological complications. Methods . The study included 30 patients after kidney transplantation. All patients were classifi ed as high-immunologic risk group. In 15 patients of study group we performed DFPF, in 15 patients of comparison group – traditional plasmapheresis. We monitored the immune status: markers of humoral immunity activation – IgG, IgM, IgA before and after the procedures. DFPF procedure was performed on OctoNova (MeSys, Germany) with a plasmafi lter and plasma components separator. Protocol biopsies were performed on days 30 and 90. Results . The concentration of antibodies may be effectively reduced with DFPF. Total IgM and IgG antibodies were reduced by 30–55% of the original level. There was a less albumin loss in case of DFPF application. There is 1 patient with antibody-mediated rejection with graft dysfunction in study group. There are no signs of rejection in 30- and 90-day biopsy in study group. But there were three patients with subclinical antibody-mediated rejection in the comparison group. Conclusion . DFPF can safely and effectively reduce the high titers of antibodies that are responsible for humoral rejection of renal allograft. Reduction of antibodies in sensitized patients immediately after transplantation may improve graft function.

Influence of Probiotic Consortium on TH1 and TH2 Immune Response.

IntroductionThe main role of probiotics is to maintain homeostasis in the intestines and improve bowel protective function. The aim of the present study is to investigate immuno-modulatory effects of a probiotic consortium.MethodsObservations were carried out in vitro. The presence of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IgA, IgM, and IgE was studied using a solid-phase enzyme immunosorbent assay on the VECTOR-BEST sets (Russia).ResultsImmunomodulatory properties of the probiotic consortium were studied, which consisted of the following strains: Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium bifidum. Elevated concentrations of INFγ in control samples decreased 3.9 times (p < 0.05) after a saturation of blood with the probiotic consortium. Significant reduction of cytokine levels after the probiotic effects of the consortium was observed in IL-10 by 2.1 times (p < 0.05) and IgA by 1.87 times (p < 0.0005). There was a significant increase in the levels of IL-4, IgE, IL-6, and IL-8 by 1.3 (p < 0.005), 1.1 (p < 0.5), 18.0 (p < 0.005), and 6 (p < 0.05) times, respectively, in comparison with the control samples. IL-4 and INFγ have different effects on the synthesis of IgE. Soluble low affinity receptors FcɛRII (CD23) in association with IL-4 facilitate a differentiation of the B-lymphocytes in IgE-synthesizing cells, while γ-INF inhibits this process. It is known that the intracellular expression of γ-INF and IL-4 is the most reliable marker for Th1 and Th2 immune responses, respectively. The conducted studies determined that the ratio of INF-γ/IL-4 was 0.9 (control 4.8, P < 0.005) after the saturation of the blood cells with probiotic consortium. NF-γ/IL4 ratio decreased by 5.3 times compared with a control value, which indicates a reduction in the functional activity of Th1 type lymphocytes in comparison with the function of Th2 cells.ConclusionThe application of the probiotic consortium results in the maintenance of homeostasis by the stimulation of immune function through the activation of humoral immunity. Moreover, the probiotic application changes the orientation of the immunological memory causing the cancellation of the recruitment of Th1 cells in the response.

発症早期から血漿交換療法をふくむ免疫療法をおこなった，難治頻回の部分発作重積を呈した急性脳炎の1例

We describe a patient of acute encephalitis with refractory partial status epilepticus who was successfully treated with early immunotherapy. A 35-year-old male presented with generalized seizures a week after febrile upper respiratory illness. He developed refractory multifocal and generalized seizures despite multiple antiepileptic drug therapies, thereby requiring intubation on the 8(th) day after admission. No significant improvement was observed after steroid pulse and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapies. On the 18(th) day, he received plasma exchange (PE) therapy in combination with intravenous thiamylal and lidocaine to achieve burst-suppression coma. This multidisciplinary treatment led to remission of refractory status epilepticus and subsequent withdrawal from general anesthesia. Although anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid were negative, other neural surface antibodies may responsible for the development of status epilepticus in this case. Clinical features in this case, including previous good health, an antecedent febrile illness, and prolonged treatment-resistant status epilepticus, were similar to those of the acute phase of new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) syndrome. Consecutive use of glucocorticoids, IVIG, and PE in the early phase was speculated to ameliorate seizures by suppressing abnormal activation of humoral immunity. This indicates that early aggressive immunotherapy may prevent complications resulting from immune-mediated treatment-resistant status epilepticus.

Regulatory T cells percentage in peripheral blood before and after eradication of &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Helicobacter pylori&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induces gastroduodenal diseases and vigorous humural and cellular immune abnormalities. In order to clarify the immunological changes before and after eradication of H. pylori, the percentages and ratios of the following cells in the peripheral blood of 32 H. pylori-infected patients and 25 control subjects were analyzed: CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, T helper 1 cells (Th1), T helper 2 cells (Th2), CD4+CD25+ T cells, Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg), CD4/CD8 ratio, and Th1/Th2 ratio. CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly higher in H. pylori-infected patients before (mean ± SD, 2.9 ± 1.9) and after (mean ± SD, 2.8 ± 1.6) eradication of H. pylori than in control subjects (mean ± SD, 2.1 ± 0.9). The percentage of Th2 cells was significantly higher in H. pylori-infected patients (mean ± SD, 2.6 ± 1.1) than in control subjects (mean ± SD, 1.9 ± 1.1; p H. pylori (mean ± SD, 2.3 ± 1.4) was lower than that before eradication. There was no significant difference between control subjects (mean ± SD, 4.1% ± 1.5%) and patients before H. pylori eradication (mean ± SD, 4.5% ± 2.4%) in the percentage of Tregs, but the percentage was significantly higher in patients after H. pylori eradication (mean ± SD, 5.2% ±2.6%) than in control subjects. The function of peripheral induced Tregs was reported to suppress the excessive immune reaction in chronic inflammation. These data suggest that Tregs may proliferate and be activated to suppress the activation of humoral immunity in H. pylori-infected patients, and these changes continue after 3 months or later of successful eradication of H. pylori.

Immune mechanism and clinical significance of macrophage to medullary hematopoietic injury of immune-related hematocytopenia patients

Background Immune-related hematocytopenia (IRH) is considered to be related with the production of autoantibody, as well as the activation of humoral immunity which is stimulated by B lymphocyte. This study aimed to observe the levels of various cytokines in the blood serum and the in situ active state of macrophage (Mφ) in the medullary hematopoietic microenvironment of IRH patients, and to probe into the immune mechanism and clinical significance of Mφ in hematopoietic cell injury. Methods ELISA is used to detect the IL-4, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, and IFN-γ levels in the peripheral blood serum of 376 patients in pre- and post-therapy. Cytochemistry and cell immunochemistry methods are used to observe the peroxidase (POX), nonspecific esterase (NSE), hemosiderin granules, and HLA-DR activity of Mφ in the bone marrow of patients. Immunofluorescence is used to observe the expression of hemocyte antihuman globulin IgG antibody, lymphocytes CD4 molecule, Mφ membrane FcγIIreceptor (FcγIIR), mannitose receptor (MR), IFN-γ, ICAM-1, IL-12, and IL-17A and the formation mechanism of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) hematopoietic cell islands (HI) in the medullary hematopoietic microenvironment of patients. Glucocorticoid is used for treatment on the basis of anti-infection therapy, and gamma globulin stoss therapy is used for the appearance of ADCC-type HI or serious Mφ bloodthirsty phenomenon; if necessary, association of Cyclosporine A (CsA) should be used and chalybeate should be supplemented. Results In the patient group, the levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, and IFN-γ were increased. After treatment, the cytokine levels gradually became normal. The activated Mφ in the marrow highly expressed NSE and POX, and Mφ swallowed more hemosiderin particles, but the iron in the cytoplasm of immature erythrocytes decreased. The activated Mφ expressed HLA-DR, MR, ICAM-1, IFN-γ, and IL-12. For patients with humoral immunity activation and bacterial infection, Mφ weakly expressed IL-17A but highly expressed FcγIIR, and the phenomenon that ADCC-type HI broke pathological blood corpuscles often occurred; for the cellular immune activation along with virus infection, the white blood count (WBC) significantly reduced, Mφ weakly expressed FcγIIR, secretory highly expressed IL-17A, and the phenomena that Mφ adhered to, captured and swallowed blood cell often occurred. After four weeks of anti-infective and immunosuppressive therapy, nuclear apoptosis of Mφ occurred in the bone marrow of patients, HI and bloodthirsty phenomenon disappeared, and the peripheral blood picture started to improve. Conclusions Mφ is an important antigen presenting cell in the IRH marrow for hematopoiesis destruction and an immune effector cell of hematopoietic injury; infection can promote the activation of Mφ, upregulate the impression of immune molecule and receptors, form ADCC HI, aggravate hematopoietic injury, and accelerate the destruction on hematopoietic cell.

Immuno-pathologic effects of oral administration of chlorpyrifos in broiler chicks

This study sought to assess if chlorpyrifos (CPF) induced immunotoxic effects in orally-treated day-old broiler chicks. Groups of chicks received per os CPF diluted in xylene at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg body weight (CPF-5, CPF-10, and CPF-20) orally daily for 15 days. Xylene and control groups received xylene alone (1 ml/kg BW) and physiological saline, respectively. At various times during/after the exposure regimens, different immune end-points were analyzed in the birds. Humoral immunity was examined by assessing antibody responses to sheep red blood cells. Cell-mediated immunity was measured via lymphoproliferative responses to avian tuberculin. Leukocyte phagocytic ability was measured using a carbon clearance assay. Results showed that CPF administered to broiler chicks caused a dose-dependent decrease in humoral immunity, cell-mediated immunity, and phagocytic activity. Dose- and time-related pathological changes were observed in bursa of Fabricius, spleen, and thymus in treated birds. These changes were mild, moderate, and severe, respectively, in the 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg CPF groups. The Bursa of Fabricius in treated birds showed increased inter-follicular connective tissue proliferation, severe moderate cytoplasmic vacuolation, edema, and degenerative changes such as pyknosis and fragmentation of nuclei that depleted the follicles of lymphoid cells. In the spleen, disorganization of follicular patterns, severe congestion, cytoplasmic vacuolation, degenerative changes, and hyperplasia of reticular cells were noted. The thymus in treated birds exhibited congestion, hyper-cellularity, and a presence of immature monocytes in the medullary region, as well as myoid cell necrosis. Taken together, these studies clearly demonstrated that chlorpyrifos could induce immunotoxicities in broiler birds.

Criteria for the Diagnosis of Neurosyphilis in Cerebrospinal Fluid

The origin of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) syphilis antibodies (intrathecal or blood-derived) is in doubt. Little is known about CSF test behavior under the condition of physiological or disturbed functioning of blood-CSF barrier (BCB) and intrathecal immunoglobulin (Ig) production. We collected 126 serum/CSF pairs from patients with serological evidence of syphilis. We explored the relationships between the established facts of intrathecal Ig synthesis and/or BCB dysfunction and the results of CSF diagnostic tests: the Treponema pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) test, the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-Abs) test, the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test, and white blood cell counts. We checked the criteria used either to support or refute the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. Reactive CSF-VDRL tests, elevated CSF-white blood cell counts, and elevated CSF-TPHA titers/indices were associated with the signs of intrathecal Ig synthesis, whereas nonreactive CSF-fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption, nonreactive CSF-TPHA tests, and CSF-TPHA titers from 1:4 to 1:160 were associated with cases where the intrathecal synthesis was not detected. There were some peculiarities of the tests toward BCB dysfunction.Most of reactive CSF-VDRL test samples and CSF samples with pleocytosis were also meeting at least 1 of the CSF-TPHA titer/indices-based criteria. T. pallidum hemagglutination indices were in no better conformity with the facts of intrathecal immune response than CSF-TPHA titers. Our findings have shown that all the examined criteria for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis in CSF are different assessment tools of intrathecal humoral immune activity and support the hypothesis that high CSF treponemal-specific antibody titers are a consequence of inflammatory pathology of the central nervous system.