Neuroendocrine regulation of thymus hormones: hypothalamic dependence of "facteur thymique serique" level

The influence of the hypothalamus extract (HE) on the blood level of the "facteur thymique serique" (FTS) was studied. Hypothalami collected from young mice were pooled, homogenated in saline, and centrifuged; finally, the supernatant injected in old or thymectomized mice with no detectable levels of FTS. In the old mice the treatment results in a reappearance of this circulating thymic hormone; in contrast, in adult thymectomized animals, the HE injection was not able to induce FTS activity. When HE donors were pretreated with thymosin fraction 3, known to contain FTS among other active peptides, the capacity of such a hypothalamus preparation to induce reappearance of FTS in old animals is greatly diminished. The data presented here suggest that the capacity of the thymus to secrete FTS depends on a hypothalamic factor, and therefore the absence of this thymic hormone in the aged reflects a failure of the thymus linked to its impaired neurologic control. On the other hand it seems evident that a feedback system operates in order to regulate the release of this hypothalamus stimulatory factor.     

Thymic dysfunction in the mutant diabetic (db/db) mouse

Thymic function has been explored in genetically diabetic homozygous C57BL/KsJ (db/db) mice by evaluating their serum thymic factor (FTS) levels with a rosette assay. As previously reported for other autoimmune mice (NZB or MRL/I mice), the age-dependent decline of FTS levels was significantly accelerated in diabetic mice when compared to heterozygous littermates. Furthermore, FTS inhibitory molecules were detected in db/db mouse sera (as early as 10 wk of age) as evaluated by their ability to absorb in vitro the activity of synthetic FTS in the rosette assay, and in vivo for their capacity to induce the disappearance of endogenous FTS when injected into normal mice. These inhibitors were shown to be immunoglobulins. Histologically, the thymus presented an accelerated involution starting with a cortical lymphocytic depletion and an increased number of Hassall's corpuscles. Ultrastructural studies showed alterations in thymic epithelial cells, mainly represented by an increasing number of cytoplasmic vacuoles. By means of indirect immunofluorescence with anti-FTS monoclonal antibodies, it was shown that the number of FTS+ cells was reduced in db/db mouse thymuses: at the age of 22 wk, diabetic mice had 10 times fewer FTS+ cells than heterozygotes of the same age. Taken together, these results indicate important abnormalities in the thymus of diabetic mice. It is possible that the associated lymphocyte dysfunction plays a role in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune disease presented by db/db mice.     

Circulating thymic hormone levels in zinc deficiency

The effect of zinc deficiency (Zn^?) on the circulating thymic hormone (FTS) levels in A/J mice was studied. After 3 weeks of feeding the mice a Zn^? diet, FTS levels were markedly reduced and after 17 weeks, FTS was undetectable. By contrast, the zinc-supplemented (Zn⁺) group seemed to maintain FTS levels better than the normal diet group with aging. On the other hand, spleen spontaneous rosette-forming cells (sRFC) were studied for their azathioprine (AZ) sensitivity in A/J mice on different diets. The Zn^? mice had fewer sRFC than did the normally fed or Zn⁺ mice. The role of zinc in controlling levels of FTS and thus thymic function is discussed.     

In vitro modulation of mouse natural killer (NK) cell activity by the serum thymic factor (FTS)

Previous studies indicated that the serum thymic factor (FTS) could modulate in vivo the level of splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity in mice. The present report shows that such an effect is also observed after a short term in vitro incubation of the effector cells with FTS. The regulatory effects of FTS result in an increase or a decrease of the splenic NK cell cytotoxicity depending upon the age and the mouse strain. Furthermore, FTS is able to enhance the NK cell activity of thymus and bone marrow cells which are known to be weakly reactive in NK cytotoxicity. Depletion experiments demonstrated that the FTS-induced increase of NK cell activity was not mediated by Thy 1+ cells nor macrophages, thus suggesting a direct action of FTS on the effector cells. Comparative studies using other thymic hormones revealed similar patterns of reactivity. These results favor the hypothesis of a close relationship between the thymus and NK cells.     

Radioprotective effects of serum thymic factor in mice.

Serum thymic factor (FTS) reduced mortality of mice after total-body irradiation with 7.56 Gy X rays. The radioprotective effect was achieved by daily repeated subcutaneous injections of 3-100 micrograms FTS, while doses higher than 300 micrograms/day/mouse were neither radioprotective nor toxic. Similarly, degeneration of the spleen was moderated by 3-100 micrograms FTS but not by 500 micrograms FTS in sublethally (3.78 Gy) irradiated mice. Histological examination showed that hematopoiesis was enhanced in the spleen by daily injections of 10 micrograms FTS. Spleen cells from the FTS-treated mice incorporated more [3H]thymidine in culture with or without concanavalin A. The treatment with FTS increased the production of colony-stimulating factor in the spleen as well as in peritoneal macrophage-like cells, and caused a significant increase in the number of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cells both in the spleen and in the femoral bone marrow. Furthermore, FTS prevented a decrease in circulating neutrophils in the sublethally irradiated mice. Prominent overshoot recovery of myelopoiesis, which occurred occasionally in sublethally irradiated mice, did not occur in the FTS-treated mice. The decrease in blood erythrocytes was also significantly reduced. These observations imply that this thymic hormone has potential as a radioprotector.     

Effect of phenobarbital and thyroxine on hepatocarcinogenesis initiated in mice by nitrosoethylurea and diethylnitrosamine

13-14-day old mice of ICR and CBA strains were given a single intraperitoneal injection of nitrosoethylurea (80 mg/kg) or diethylnitrosamine (50 mg/kg). 2 weeks later, they were given drinking water containing phenobarbital (1 g/L) or thyroxine (2 mg/L). The control mice were given only tap water. 29.4% of male and 42.1% of female ICR mice who had received nitrosoethylurea died of leukemia within 3-6 months after the carcinogen treatment. There was no case of leukemia in mice treated with diethylnitrosamine. Nitrosoethylurea induced 3-more often lung adenomas than diethylnitrosamine. Phenobarbital and thyroxine did not affect development of either leukemias or lung adenomas. By contrast, phenobarbital significantly elevated the number and size of hepatic lesions, whereas thyroxine markedly decreased them in all the experiments. The total and free thyroxine levels were significantly decreased in the blood of mice given phenobarbital and increased in mice given thyroxine. The data obtained indicate that thyroid hormones suppress tumor development in the mouse liver and that the promotion of hepatic tumoro-genesis by phenobarbital is presumably caused by the elimination of this suppressing effect of the thyroid hormones.     

Studies on mouse autoreactive cells: III. Fetal development of autorosette-forming cells

Self-recognition assessed by rosette formation by lymphocytes with erythrocytes of syngeneic or autologous origin is a very primitive function that is present before lymphoid system development proper in the thymus. Autologous rosette-forming cells (A-RFC) have been found in the very early yolk sac of pregnant mice of 10–11 days gestation. Moreover, when these 10- to 11-days' gestation pregnant mice were subcutaneously injected with facteur thymique sérique (FTS) 1 day before A-RFC examination, it appears that FTS reduces the number of A-RFC in the yolk sac by 63%. Thus it has not been possible to determine whether FTS acted by changing the migration capacity or the expression of receptors on the cell surface.     

A Thymic Hormone Protects Mice from Enteropathy during Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease

We have previously reported that a nonapeptide thymic hormone, facteur thymique serique (FTS), is involved in the differentiation and activation of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IEL) in mice. In this study, we examined the effect of FTS treatment on enteropathy in a murine model for acute graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) induced by injection of parental C57BL/6 splenocytes into unirradiated (C57BL/6XDBA/2) F₁ hybrids. FTS treatment significantly protected mice from developing acute GVHD as assessed by mortality rate, splenomegaly and enteropathy. The infiltration of donor-derived TCRαβ i-IEL bearing CD8αβ was significantly inhibited in the small intestine of FTS-treated mice, and the frequencies of apoptosis of crypt cells in the intestinal mucosa were decreased in these mice during acute GVHD. These results suggest that FTS treatment contributes to protection against enteropathy of acute GVHD. Thus, FTS may provide a useful approach to control acute GVHD after blood transfusion or bone marrow transplantation.     

Differential, multihormonal regulation of the mouse major urinary protein gene family in the liver.

The hormonal requirements for the regulation of the major urinary protein (MUP) mRNA levels in mouse liver have been examined. Previous experiments have shown that administration of testosterone to female or castrated male mice increases MUP mRNA levels approximately fivefold to normal male levels. We have found that thyroxine and the peptide hormone, growth hormone, each had a pronounced effect on MUP mRNA levels. MUP mRNA was reduced 150-fold in growth-hormone-deficient mutant mice (little). The administration of growth hormone and thyroxine induced MUP mRNA approximately 150-fold, and when administered together, they induced MUP mRNA approximately 1,000-fold. testosterone administration. When administered separately to these mice, growth hormone and thyroxine induced with MUP mRNA approximately 150-fold, and when administered together, they induced MUP mRNA approximately 1,000-fold. Testicular feminized mice, which lack a functional major testosterone receptor protein, can also be induced to male levels by treatment with both growth hormone and thyroxine. In addition, we present evidence which indicates that growth hormone, thyroxine, and testosterone differentially regulate the levels of distinct MUP mRNA species.     

大豆异黄酮对电离辐射小鼠淋巴细胞的防护作用

目的研究大豆异黄酮(SI)对小鼠淋巴细胞的辐射防护作用。方法24只雄性昆明小鼠,随机分为正常对照组、辐射对照组和辐射补充0.5%SI组,喂养2周后,4.0Gy照射。照射后24 h处死小鼠,取血、胸腺和脾脏分离淋巴细胞,进行血淋巴细胞计数、观察DNA损伤情况;培养胸腺和脾脏淋巴细胞,检测3H-dT掺入量,观察淋巴细胞的增殖能力,计算淋巴细胞的增殖指数。结果辐射使小鼠胸腺和脾脏淋巴细胞数明显减少、胸腺淋巴细胞增殖能力和脾脏淋巴细胞转化指数降低、血淋巴细胞DNA损伤增加,这些变化均具有统计学意义;补充SI可降低胸腺和脾脏淋巴细胞数的减少幅度,降低胸腺淋巴细胞增殖能力和脾脏淋巴细胞转化指数下降幅度,减少辐射对血淋巴细胞DNA损伤程度,其中SI对胸腺淋巴细胞增殖能力和对血淋巴细胞DNA损伤程度的防护作用与辐射对照组相比有统计学意义。结论大豆异黄酮可对小鼠的血、胸腺和脾脏淋巴细胞有一定的辐射防护作用。     

The effect of "facteur thymique serique" (FTS) on catecholamine and serotonin neurotransmission in discrete brain regions of mice

The dose-related effect of Facteur Thymique Serique (FTS) on hypothalamic, mesencephalic and striatal neurotransmission were investigated after intracerebroventricular (icv) administration. FTS pretreatment with dose of 1 microgram (icv) increased the mesencephalic serotonin content, while failed to influence the hypothalamic and striatal serotonin levels. The nonapeptide in a dose of 0.1 microgram (icv) decreased the hypothalamic, while in a dose of 1 microgram the hypothalamic and also the mesencephalic dopamine content, but did not influence the striatal dopamine level. FTS in a dose of 1 microgram (icv) significantly decreased the hypothalamic noradrenaline level, but did not influence the noradrenaline content of the mesencephalon and striatum. These results suggest that FTS is able to modify central neurotransmission.     

Effects of exogenous thyroxine or prior exposure to raised water-flow on the downstream movement of hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon smolts

Administration of thyroxine to hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon smolts raised blood serum thyroxine levels 24 h later to exceed those in controls. Treatment also slowed downstream movement when smolts were released into a stream above a fish trap. The descent of smolts released immediately after being challenged with high-water flows for several hours was also slowed, and proportionately fewer challenged fish than controls were captured at the fish trap. These findings were consistent in each of two years. Only in one year, however, could flow-challenge be shown to raise endogenous thyroxine levels in blood serum. It is concluded that exogenous thyroxine treatment and flow-challenge before release have qualitatively similar effects on downstream movement but that this similarity is possibly not a consequence of the common effect of increased serum thyroxine raised either exogenously or from the thyroid system itself.     

Defective differentiation of natural killer cells in SJL mice. Role of the thymus

As previously shown, three distinct phenotypes exist in murine natural killer (NK) cell activity when it is evaluated by the endogenous levels of activity and the susceptibility to augmentation by interferon (IFN) and IFN inducers. The "low" phenotype has low levels of activity which can be poorly augmented by IFN, as in mice of SJL strain. The "inducible" phenotype exhibits low endogenous levels but can vigorously respond to IFN-mediated augmentation, as in A.SW strain. The "high" NK phenotype shows high levels of endogenous activity which can be augmented to still higher levels by IFN, as in B10.S mice. Since SJL mice with congenital absence of the thymus (nude) were of the inducible type, the effect of neonatal thymectomy was examined in the present study. Neonatal thymectomy was found to convert the low phenotype of SJL mice to the inducible, mimicking the effect of nu/nu genotype. Thymectomy as late as 25 days after birth was effective, but retransplantation of a syngeneic newborn or adult thymus, or thymocytes, failed to reverse the effect of thymectomy. The poor responsiveness of NK activity to IFN in SJL, therefore, is extrinsic to the NK cell lineage and is attributable to suppression or maturational block of NK cell differentiation by the thymus during the first few weeks of neonatal life. A series of experiments with bone marrow chimeras showed that the SJL recipients did not allow the expression of inducible or high phenotype by bone marrow progenitors from allogeneic donors with either phenotype. Therefore, the SJL recipients provide an environment which suppresses not only the development of IFN-sensitive NK cell precursors, but also the levels of endogenous NK cell activity. SJL bone marrow cells gave rise to NK activity of inducible phenotype in B10.S recipients, confirming the crucial role of the environment in which NK cell differentiation takes place.     

Development of hepatic acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase in hormone-treated chicks.

It has been suggested that the carbohydrate-rich diet of chicks after hatching is responsible for the emergence of hepatic enzymes involved in lipogenesis; the injection of glucose to newly hatched chicks gives rise to an appreciable elvation on the activities of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase. The present study shows that during the first hours after hatching, there is a natural elevation of glycemia which parallels the increase in acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase activity. However, the administration of hormones which alter the blood glucose levels considerably (insulin, tolbutamide, glucagon and hydrocortisone) did not influence the enzyme activity. The administration of thyroxine, estradiol and cyclic AMP, was also without effect. These results do not support the theory that the increased amount of blood glucose is the natural effector of the induction acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase. They also show that different lipogenic enzymes are not regulated via the same 'operon' since thyroxine or glucagon which alter the level of some enzymes on this pathway did not modify that of the acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase.     

大蒜素对白色念珠菌感染小鼠神经内分泌免疫系统调节作用的研究(英文)

本研究旨在探讨大蒜素对白色念珠菌感染小鼠神经内分泌免疫系统(NEI)的调节作用。将小鼠随机分为三组:正常对照组、模型组、大蒜素组。除正常对照组外,模型组、大蒜素组分别建立小鼠白色念珠菌感染模型。大蒜素组小鼠给予大蒜素灌胃,其余组给予等量生理盐水。连续用药14 d后,各组小鼠取血测定促肾上腺激素(ACTH)、皮质酮(CORT)、β-内啡肽(β-EP)、5-羟色胺(5-HT)的水平,测定胸腺指数及脾脏淋巴细胞增殖活性。实验结果显示,模型组小鼠NEI功能发生紊乱,与正常对照组相比,ACTH、CORT、β-EP水平均明显升高,5-HT、胸腺指数及脾脏淋巴细胞增殖活性均明显下降,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。而大蒜素组小鼠ACTH、CORT、β-EP水平较之模型组明显下降,5-HT、胸腺指数及脾脏淋巴细胞增殖活性明显升高,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。综上所述,本研究提示大蒜素对白色念珠菌感染小鼠紊乱的NEI具有明显的调节作用。     

碘缺乏或碘过量对小鼠子二代生长发育的影响

目的探讨碘缺乏和碘过量所致的甲状腺功能低下对小鼠子二代生长发育的影响。方法将断乳1个月Baldb／c小鼠,随机分为5组（LI,NI,5HI,10HI,50H1）。给以不同浓度碘水喂养3个月后,连续传二代。观察碘缺乏和碘过量对子二代小鼠生长发育的影响。结果20日龄时,各组子二代鼠与NI组相比,LI组与50HI组的T4明显降低;LI组的体重明显降低,50HI组体重、身长、尾长、胸腺、脾均明显降低,脑相对重量增加。40日龄时,各组子二代鼠与NI组相比,LI组T4明显降低;碘缺乏组的体重、身长、胸腺、脾、肾上腺的重量均明显降低,脑相对重量明显增加;50HI组体重、身长、尾长明显降低。结论碘缺乏,高剂量碘过量均可引起甲状腺功能低下,使子二代鼠的生长发育延迟。碘缺乏对生长发育的影响比碘过量更为明显。但小鼠对碘过量有较强的耐受性,当碘摄入量为正常的50倍时,才会影响下一代的生长发育。     

Effect of thiourea on intracranial bone tumour formation in AkR mice.

The effect of administration of thiourea (5 g/kg in diet) alone or simultaneously with thyroxine (1 mg/l in drinking water) on the frequency of hyperplastic benign osteoma of the skull was studied in AkR mice. Animals treated with both thiourea and thyroxine were in hyperthyroidism: the thyroxine dose received was higher that that required to prevent thiourea-induced thyroid gland hypertrophy. A significant increase of the intracranial bone tumour (IBT) frequency was observed both in mice treated with thiourea alone and those which received thiourea and thyroxine simultaneously. Increase of IBT frequency was not due to the antithyroid effect of thiourea but seems due to a direct toxic action of thiourea on the pituitary.     

一种动态检测小鼠微量血中T细胞受体重排删除环含量的方法

目的:通过检测比较外周血(颈动脉大量采血和微量隐静脉采血)、胸腺组织和脾脏组织等不同成分或组织中T细胞受体重排删除环(T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles,TREC)的含量,并建立一种通过微量外周血PCR预扩增的方法,评估胸腺输出功能。方法:采用C57BL/6小鼠作为实验对象,分成幼年组(5周龄,n=10)和成年组(15周龄,n=10)。经过隐静脉采血及颈动脉采血后处死小鼠,取小鼠胸腺器官和脾脏器官,提取基因组DNA(g DNA),隐静脉微量血g DNA通过PCR预扩增,提纯后再和颈动脉血、胸腺组织和脾脏组织g DNA一起进行实时定量PCR,分析各组织成分TREC的表达水平及差别。结果:幼年组胸腺组织及外周血中TREC的含量比成年组高,且二者趋势基本一致;而脾脏组织结果与其相反;幼年组小鼠胸腺组织中TREC的含量比脾脏组织中高,成年组小鼠结果与之相反;微量外周血经过预扩增后再进行实时定量PCR的结果与直接定量PCR结果一致,且更高效。结论:研究提供了一种新型高效的动态检测T细胞受体重排删除环和检测胸腺输出功能的方法。