Neutrophil Lymphocyte Research Articles

Diagnostic value of redox leukocyte enzymes in postmenopausal osteopenia

Activities of redox enzymes of peripheral blood leukocytes is studied in patients with postmenopausal osteopenia. Neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MP), alkaline phosphatase (AP) and lymphocyte succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and succinate.cytochrome C oxyreductase (SCOR) activities were measured by the cytochemical method. Densitometric examinations of 49 postmenopausal women without risk of secondary osteoporosis revealed osteoporosis in 15 (31%)) and osteopenia in 24 (49%)); in 10 (20%o) mineral compactness of bones was normal. AP and SDH activities were increased and SCOR and MP activities normal in patients with osteopenia. Changes in the activities of AL and SDH in subjects with different duration of the postmenopausal period indicate that the main factor affecting the activities of these enzymes was osteopenia but not the duration of postmenopause or age. Significant correlations between enzyme values and mineral compactness of the spine were the most numerous during the first three years of postmenopause, and therefore changes in leukocyte enzyme activities are apparently not caused by inflammations associated with chronic macroand microfractures of the vertebrae but by osteopenia. The detected specific correlation between enzyme activities and localization of the pathological process in certain segments of the skeleton permits us to propose that leukocyte AL and SDH values may serve as criteria for optimal choice of skeletal area for subsequent densitometry or x-ray examination.

ASSESSMENT OF A CLINICAL SCORING SYSTEM FOR DETECTION OF IMMUNODEFICIENCY IN CHILDREN WITH RECURRENT INFECTIONS

From January, 1982, to July, 1990, 51 children with recurrent infections were investigated for immunodeficiency in this department by testing neutrophil function, lymphocyte subsets and serum immunoglobulin and complement concentrations. The prevalence of immune dysfunction within the group was 39% (20 of 51). A previously described clinical scoring system, which aims to identify children with a history of recurrent infection who merit investigation for immunodeficiency was also applied to all 51 children. The scoring system identified only 55% (11 of 20) of those with laboratory-proved immunodeficiency and had a false negative rate of 45% (9 of 20). This latter group included 2 children with severe combined immunodeficiency and 1 with hypogammaglobulinemia, diagnoses that one cannot afford to miss. The system was not sufficiently sensitive to be of use in deciding which child to test for immunodeficiency.

Association of class I bovine lymphocyte antigen complex alleles with in vitro blood neutrophil functions, lymphocyte blastogenesis, serum complement and conglutinin levels in dairy cattle

Ninety-eight lactating Holstein cows from two genetic lines selected for high and average milk production were used in the study. Five peripheral blood samples were collected over a 60-day period from each cow for evaluation of neutrophil function, lymphocyte blastogenesis, leukocyte count, and serum complement and conglutinin levels. Blood samples were typed for antigens encoded by alleles at the bovine major histocompatibility complex (BoLA) A locus. Alleles w14(w8), w20A, and w19(w6) were the most frequent of 14 alleles present in this herd. Association of BoLA type with immune function results was examined by using gene substitution models including and ignoring sire effects. Alleles w15(w8) and w16 were associated with greater circulating mononuclear cell and total leukocyte numbers, while w27(w10), w11, and w20A were associated with lower numbers of these cell types. Alleles EU28D and w20A were positively and negatively associated with granulocyte percentage, respectively. Allele w16 was associated with greater antibody-independent neutrophil cytotoxicity, unstimulated lymphocyte proliferation, serum conglutinin activity, and with lower antibody-dependent neutrophil cytotoxicity. Allele w19(w6) was associated with decreased conglutinin activity and decreased neutrophil iodination. Increased antibody-dependent neutrophil cytotoxicity was observed for animals bearing allele w14(w8), and decreased neutrophil iodination, serum conglutinin, and nonstimulated lymphocyte blastogenesis were observed in individuals carrying w20A or EU28D. Significance of both sire and BoLA complex effects suggests that both major histocompatibility complex genes and background genes of the sire significantly affect immune function. This research suggests BoLA-A locus genes may be major genes or markers for closely linked major genes involved in regulation of nonspecific immune function.

Effect of Cyclosporine-A on Connective Tissue Deposition in Experimental Inflammatory Lesions

The effect of cyclosporine-A, a potent immunosuppressant, on the development of experimental inflammatory lesions in rats was studied both histologically and biochemically. Continuous treatment with cyclosporine was begun after the implantation of sponges impregnated with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis and continued for up to 63 days. Cyclosporine-A significantly reduced the numbers of neutrophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes present during both the acute and chronic phases. In addition, greater amounts of mature fibrous tissue were present in the sponges removed from animals which had been treated with cyclosporine-A. Biochemical analyses of the collagen and glycosaminoglycan content of the sponges at varying times confirmed that cyclosporine-A can influence the deposition of connective tissue macromolecules. These data provide additional evidence that cyclosporine-A affects not only the inflammatory response but also influences subsequent connective tissue metabolism.

Recombinant Bovine Interferon-γ as an Immunomodulator in Dexamethasone-Treated and Nontreated Cattle

Three dosages (0.1, 0.5, and 2.5 mg/animal, subcutaneously), of recombinant bovine interferon-gamma (rBoIFN-gamma) were evaluated for their in vivo influence on neutrophil function and lymphocyte blastogenesis in cattle. The optimal of the three dosages tested (0.5 mg/animal or 1.1 x 10(6) U/animal) was then evaluated for its influence on neutrophils and lymphocytes in both normal and dexamethasone-treated cattle. One animal, which received 2.5 mg of rBoIFN-gamma, died by 24 h after administration due to acute diffuse interstitial pneumonia with interlobular edema and emphysema. The two highest dosages used caused fever at 24 h and the highest dosage caused a decrease in lymphocyte blastogenesis at 24 h after administration. The influence of rBoIFN-gamma on neutrophil function was dose dependent and depended on the baseline values for neutrophil function. Random migration by neutrophils was consistently inhibited in animals that received 0.5 mg or more of rBoIFN-gamma. Staphylococcus aureus ingestion and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by neutrophils was enhanced by rBoIFN-gamma treatment in both dexamethasone-treated cattle and in nondexamethasone-treated cattle, which had relatively low values for these parameters before treatment. Iodination by neutrophils was also enhanced by rBoIFN-gamma when either a suboptimal concentration of neutrophil stimulant was used or when the cattle were treated with dexamethasone. In summary, the rBoIFN-gamma had greater immunomodulator activity in immunosuppressed than in normal cattle. The in vivo influence of rBoIFN-gamma therefore depends on the physiologic status of the animal.

Histochemical localization and concentration of copper released from a CuIUD in the endometria of rabbits

Atomic absorption spectrophotometry and histochemistry have been employed to study the content and localization of copper released from a CuIUD in the endometrium of rabbits bearing the copper device for 30 days. The released copper was mainly accumulated in the luminal and glandular epithelial cytoplasm. However, if the succession of the epithelia was imperfect due to the impairment by the device, copper could be detected in the stroma cells, which appeared to be neutrophilic leukocytes or lymphocytes. The mean concentration of copper in the uterine tissue of the CuIUD-bearing horn (82.24 micrograms/g dry weight) was significantly higher than that of the contralateral one (14.48 micrograms/g dry weight), and also tended to be higher than that of the horn bearing the stainless steel device (32.97 micrograms/g dry weight) and its contralateral horn (18.03 micrograms/g dry weight).

The presence of inflammatory leucocytes in the rectal mucus of patients with regional ileitis.

In 30 patients with Crohn's disease of the small bowel cytological imprints of the rectal mucus were examined. The question was whether the inflammatory process in the terminal ileum was reflected in the rectal mucus by the presence of inflammatory leucocytes. In no patient did the colon show signs of Crohn's disease. By the first diagnostic contact the samples from 2/3 of the patients contained neutrophilic granulocytes and lymphocytes, as distinct from the acellular — or nearly acellular — picture in normal subjects. It is concluded, that a positive test may be an important indicator of organic disease in proximal parts of the gut.

DIFFERENTIAL WHITE COUNT IN INFANCY

Discrepancies in the differential count of the white corpuscles are at once evident when counts made from the supravital preparations are compared with those made from fixed smears. The difference usually rests in the lower polymorphonuclear neutrophil and higher lymphocyte percentage of the fixed smear. The predominance of lymphocytes in the differential white blood count has always been regarded as characteristic of the blood of the normal infant following the first two weeks of life. This evidence has in general been based on the results of counts made from the fixed smear. At times, a routine fixed smear reveals a lymphocyte count out of all proportion to the clinical picture, and a presumptive diagnosis of a blood dyscrasia is entertained. As the supravital technic provides a means of studying living blood cells with a minimum of trauma, differential white counts obtained by this method are more accurate than those utilizing