Effect of reaferon on the functional activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes and neutrophils of volunteers

The administration of Reaferon, the analog of human alpha 2-interferon obtained by means of gene engineering technigues, to 25 volunteers revealed the ability of small doses of this preparation to produce a stimulating effect on the capacity of lymphocytes and neutrophils for rosette formation. When introduced in large doses, the preparation sharply suppressed this capacity. A significant decrease in the T- and B-lymphocyte count, as well as in the neutrophil count, was noted. These changes persisted for 7 days after the course of Reaferon injections had been over. The intravenous injection of the preparation produced more pronounced effect than its intramuscular injection in the same doses. No essential changes in the count of the precursor cells of both T- and B-lymphocytes were registered.     

Assessment of the quantity of T-lymphocytes and other rosette-forming cells in the blood of patients and healthy subjects]

In using the reaction of spontaneous rosette formation to assess the immunity T-system one should not limit one-self to determination of the percentage content of the rosette-forming cells alone. Immune status can be properly judged by determination of the content of immunocompetent cells per one cubic mm of the blood of the given donor. When the reaction is staged on the leukocyte suspension not only lymphocytes, but also other cell forms with the capacity of binding sheep erythrocytes can be determined.     

A non-invasive technique for sequential collection of earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) leukocytes during subchronic immunotoxicity studies

We have compared two methods for collecting earthworm leukocytes (coelomocytes) with respect to cell yield, viability and behaviour in immunoassays. Non-invasive extrusion was more efficient than puncturing the coelomic cavity. Extrusion does not produce trauma to earthworms maintained under long term laboratory conditions. Neither technique modified immune assays, as determined by erythrocyte and secretory rosette formation, and phagocytosis, since all 3 were functionally equivalent. After an initial extrusion, sequential leukocyte collections by extrusion are possible at intervals of 6 weeks without affecting total and differential cell counts and rosette formation.     

Increased T lymphocytes and IgMEA-receptor lymphocytes in Hodgkin's disease spleens.

Splenic lymphocytes from 11 patients with Hodgkin's disease were compared to lymphocytes of six spleens from patients with nonlymphoproliferative diseases. T lymphocytes were increased in patients with histological involvement by Hodgkin's disease. Likewise, lymphocytes from spleens with histological involvement showed increased rosette formation with immunologlobulin M-coated sheep red blood cells (IgMEA). A similar increase in T lymphocytes and in IgMEA rosette formation was not observed with normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, control spleens, or with Hodgkin's disease spleens without evidence of histological involvement.     

The significance of varying SRBC/lymphocyte ratio in T cell rosette formation.

The incubation ratio of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) to lymphocytes is a critical factor in rosette formation, whereas the length of time SRBC and lymphocytes are incubated together does not significantly affect the percentage of lymphocytes forming rosettes. The graph obtained by plotting percentage of rosette formation against the ratio of SRBC to lymphocytes is similar to that resulting from the formation of bimolecular complexes. If rosette formation is analogous to formation of bimolecular complexes, maximal rosette formation occurs when the system is saturated, i.e., with excess SRBC, and is a measure of the total capacity of a lymphocyte population to form rosettes. In addition, the percentage of rosette formation observed at a limiting SRBC/lymphocyte ratio gives an indication of the avidity of the lymphocytes for SRBC. This interpretation may provide an explanation for the difference between the "active" and "total" rosettes. When the log of the SRBC/lymphocyte ratio is plotted against percentage of rosette formation, a straight line is obtained, suggesting that within a given normal lymphocyte sample, T cell subsets with different avidities are not detected by rosette formation at different SRBC/lymphocyte ratios.     

The effect of histamine on the rosette-forming ability of T-lymphocytes upon immunization with DPT vaccine and its components

The influence exerted by histamine on the capacity of T-lymphocytes for spontaneous rosette formation in intact animals and in animals immunized with adsorbed DPT vaccine and its components has been studied. Histamine at a concentration of 10(-3) M has been found to produce an inhibitory effect on the capacity of lymphocytes in the blood and spleen of guinea pigs immunized with adsorbed DPT vaccine and its components for spontaneous rosette formation. This effect of histamine has proved to be even more pronounced after the immunization of the animals with adsorbed DPT vaccine and Bordetella pertussis suspension, which is probably due to their sensitizing action.     

Letter: Limited licensure.

We examined the relationship of leukocyte colony-stimulating activity (CSA) in vitro to neutrophil count in vivo. Using a standard two-layer system, cultures of 10⁶ leukocytes were assayed for their ability to stimulate colony formation by human bone marrow colony-forming cells. The total leukocyte CSA per ml (TLCSA) of blood varied directly with the blood neutrophil count in a group of patients with a wide range in blood neutrophil count, and in two patients recovering from neutropenia in whom serial observations were made. In the latter two patients the rise in TLCSA did not antedate the rise in blood neutrophil count, suggesting that blood leukocyte colony-stimulating factor (CSF) per se probably has little biologic significance. However, release into the circulation of cells which generate CSF could be an important way of controlling the amount of CSF acting within the marrow. In one patient the CSA of dialyzed serum increased after the rise in TLCSA, while undialyzed serum contained no CSA.     

T- and B-lymphocyte count in the spleen and lymph nodes of guinea pigs administered oxytetracycline intramuscularly]

The E and EAC rosette formation tests, carried out in order to determine the count of T and B lymphocytes in the spleen and lymph nodes of guinea pigs after several intramuscular of oxytetracycline, showed a decrease in the ability of B lymphocytes in the reaction of EAC rosette formation with the simultaneous rise of the level of "zero" cells without surface receptors characteristic of T and B lymphocytes. The data obtained in this study indicated the possibility for tetracyclines to effect the differntiation and ripening of the medullary precursors of B lymphocytes.     

Effect of histamine on the rosette-forming capacity of T-lymphocytes in immunization with ADPT vaccine and its components

The results obtained in the study of the influence of histamine on the capacity of T-lymphocytes of guinea pigs immunized with DPT-vaccine and its components for spontaneous rosette formation are presented. Histamine at a concentration of 10(-3) M has been found to inhibit the capacity of blood and splenic lymphocytes of guinea pigs immunized with adsorbed DPT vaccine for spontaneous rosette formation. The inhibitory effect is more pronounced after the immunization of the animals with adsorbed DPT vaccine and Bordetella pertussis suspension.     

Rosette formation of guinea pig lymphoid cells with rabbit erythrocytes—Differences between thymocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes

Rosette formation of guinea pig thymocytes (Th) and thymus-derived peripheral blood lymphocytes (TBL) was tested under different experimental conditions. Up to 93% of Th and 38% of TBL showed an affinity to rabbit red blood cells (RRBC). Treatment with metabolic inhibitors like sodium azide and sodium cyanide or freezing and thawing nearly abolished rosette formation by TBL but was ineffective with respect to Th. Heating the cells destroyed rosette-forming capacity of both cell types. These results indicate that spontaneous rosette formation with RRBC by Th does not require the live cell.     

Studies on thymocyte subpopulations in guinea pigs. X. Rosette-forming ability of thymocyte subpopulations before and after incubation in vitro

Thymocytes spontaneously proliferating in vitro were labelled with 3H-thymidine, and the distribution of label among rosette-forming cells (RFC+) and nonrosetting cells (RFC-), as well as in populations differing in buoyant density, was measured by liquid scintillation counting and autoradiography before and after incubation for 24 h. Initially most labelled cells (88%) belonged to the low-density (1a) subpopulation, the majority being RFC+. After incubation for 24 h, low-density nonrosetting thymocytes (1a, RFC-) contained the highest amount of label. A decreased rosette formation occurred not only in labelled cells but also in the population as a whole, and in separately incubated high-density cells. The decreased rosette formation was mainly caused by a change in rosette-forming ability of viable high-density cells, however in part also by decreased viability. A shift from low to high density occurred among labelled cells during incubation and was shown to occur in both RFC+ and RFC-. The decreased rosette formation of labelled cells during in vitro culture contrasts with the increase earlier observed in vivo and may therefore represent affinity alterations or a down-regulation of the rosette receptor in vitro. We conclude that the observed changes in density, but not in rosette-forming ability, may reflect normal differentiation.     

Rosette formation by human thymocytes

A proportion of lymphocytes in human fetal and post-natal thymus, and in blood, formed rosettes with red blood cells from sheep and pig. The count of rosette-forming cells (RFC) among human thymocytes varied widely, from 2–216 per thousand cells, and was higher in fetal than in post-natal life. The count of RFC among human thymocytes was not reduced by specific rabbit anti-human immunoglobulin sera, indicating that the receptor was not of immunoglobulin character; the reaction was inhibited by antithymocyte serum and metabolic poisons and certain enzymes. The receptor may be equivalent to other “non-specific” glycoprotein hemagglutinins in plants and viruses.The importance of species differences in immunological assays is emphasized. Thus human thymocytes gave high counts of RFC only with red blood cells of sheep and pig; moreover thymus lymphocytes from only man and pig, but not several other species including rodents, were highly reactive with sheep red blood cells. The capacity for rosette formation could be a marker for T cells in human blood.     

Carbohydrate specificity of T-cell cytophilic chicken anti-SRBC IgM antibodies.

Fixation of passively sensitized lymphocytes by formaldehyde resulted in amplified erythrocyte rosette formation. The cytophilic anti-SRBC antibodies were of the IgM class and they attached selectively to thymocytes and T lymphocytes. Anti-SRBC sera from approximately 30% of immunized chickens gave rosette counts between 500–1500 per 10⁴ cells whereas the remainder gave values considerably lower. The onset and peak of the cytophilic IgM response were reached later than that of IgM haemagglutinating antibodies and there was little correlation between the count of cytophilic rosettes and haemagglutinjn titres in individual chickens. On the basis of competitive inhibition of rosette formation by a hog blood group substance it is suggested that the cytophilic antibodies have binding site specificity for a saccharide on the surface of SRBC.     

Differentiation between chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphomas in the leukaemic phase by the mouse red blood cell rosette assay

A distinction between B-CLL and other malignant B-cell lymphomas in the leukaemic phase may be difficult. Mouse red blood cell rosette formation of lymphocytes from 97 patients with B-CLL and 19 patients suffering from other B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders was examined together with lymphocyte rosette formation of healthy controls. The majority of circulating lymphocytes of B-CLL patients formed rosettes with mouse red cells, whereas there was no relationship between the number of peripheral neoplastic B-cells and that of rosette forming cells in other lymphoproliferative diseases. The relatively simple mouse red blood cell rosette assay proved to be of value in the differentiation of otherwise nearly related conditions.     

The effect of bacterial antigens on lymphocyte immune receptors in mice

It has been shown that the treatment of a suspension of lymphocytes obtained from spleens in mice by LPS S. sonnei as well as by exotoxins Cl. tetani and Cl. botulinum has led to a notable reduction in the number of luminescent cells by comparison with control samples. The action of tested remedies was found to increase with their concentration. These was complete correlation between these results and the data obtained by the immunity rosette formation method. A reliable reduction was also noted in the number of lymphocytes forming rosettes with the sheep erythrocytes. It has been inferred that the bacterial products tested possessed a marked capacity for blocking the immune receptors of lymphocytes.     

Activity of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in granulocytes of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). A preliminary report

Cyclic 3':5'-adenosinmonophosphate phosphodiesterase (cAMP-PDE), high KM value type isoenzyme, and cyclic 3':5'-guanosino-monophosphate phosphodiesterase (cGMP-PDE), high KM value type isoenzyme, were determined in granulocytes of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in the chronic phase of the disease. Granulocyte cAMP-PDE activity was similar in the general group of CML patients to that in normal granulocytes; the cGMP-PDE, however, was somewhat higher. By dividing the CML general group into the "low leukocyte count" subgroup including granulocytes of patients with WBC number ranging from 10,300 to 40,000 per microliter (mean 22,000 per microliter), and the "high leukocyte count" subgroup including patients with leukocyte count above 40,000 per microliter (mean 67,000) remarkable differences in the activities of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases between these subgroups could be found: cAMP-PDE activity for the high leukocyte count subgroups was significantly higher than for that in normals, and in CML-low leukocyte count subgroup. On the other hand, cGMP-PDE activity in granulocytes of the high leukocyte count subgroup was found to be remarkably lower than that in normals, in the low leukocyte count subgroup and general CML group. In CML patients the ratio of cAMP-PDE activity to cGMP-PDE activity was always considerably higher than that in controls. The obtained results suggest CML granulocytes to differ from normal ones in respect to their control of intracellular cyclic nucleotide levels. This difference is related to the accumulation of CML granulocytes.     

Lymphocyte reaction in schizophrenia patients to the phytomitogens, concanavalin and phytohemagglutinin]

The capability of the schizophrenic patients' lymphocytes and lymphocytes of healthy persons to respond to the stimulating action of T-mutagens -- concanavalin A and PHA -- was studied. The T-cell count was determined by the method of rosette formation; the influence of adhesive cells on the lymphocyte response to mitogens was ascertained. The response to both the mitogens in the patients' lymphocyte cultures was reduced as compared to control, and the T-cell count failed to differ from the normal. The removal of adhesive lymphocytes results in the disappearance of differences between the response of the patients' lymphocytes and normal lymphocytes to both the mitogens.     

血钙对老年肺炎患者的严重程度及预后的影响

目的：研究血清钙离子浓度与老年肺炎患者的严重程度及预后的关系。方法：按照脓毒症的诊断标准将入住急诊ICU的老年肺炎患者206例,分为脓毒症组（155例）和非脓毒症组（51例）,脓毒症组又按照预后分为存活组（91例）和死亡组（64例）。分别测定血清钙离子浓度、血浆白蛋白、C-反应蛋白（CRP）、血白细胞计数等有关的实验室指标,比较2组指标的差别。结果：脓毒症组中血清钙离子浓度较非脓毒症组降低,CRP、血白细胞计数较非脓毒症组升高（P〈0．01）;亚组分析中,死亡组中血清钙离子浓度较存活组降低（P〈0．01）,CRP较存活组升高（P〈0．05）,血白细胞计数两组比较无明显差异（P〉0．05）;血清钙离子浓度与血浆白蛋白的浓度呈高度正相关。结论：血清钙离子浓度对判断老年肺炎患者的预后有一定的临床意义。     

The reaction of leukocytes of sterlet <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acipenser ruthenus</Emphasis> to hormone-induced stress

The influence of cortisone on the part of leukocytes in the differential leukocyte count of peripheral blood of sterlet is described. The changes in particular groups of leukocytes are characterized quantitatively. To the hormone, the fish reacted by a decrease in leukocyte count, blastic (juvenile) cells, and eosinophils and an increase in neutrophils and monocytes. It is concluded that the stress hormone suppresses lymphopoiesis by the hormone-induced apoptosis of lymphocytes while, on the contrary, myelopoiesis activates it.     

Detection of activity similar to that of early pregnancy factor after mating sows with a vasectomized boar

Incubation of normal pig lymphocytes in serum samples collected from 10 sows immediately before, and at daily intervals after mating with a vasectomized boar significantly elevated the rosette inhibition titre (RIT) of a standard antilymphocyte serum in 6 animals on the first but not on the 2nd and 3rd day after copulation. Infusion of seminal plasma without mating into 5 sows induced an obvious, but not statistically significant, transient rise of titres in 3 pigs. Neither sodium chloride infusion (N = 5), nor sham copulation with diverted penis (N = 5) influenced serum RITs. Porcine seminal plasma showed an inherent rosette-inhibiting property. A depression of rosette formation was evident in a concentration-dependent fashion up to a dilution of 1 in 320. Similarly, preincubation of lymphocytes in serial dilutions of seminal plasma in a non-pregnancy serum sample led to an amplification of the rosette inhibiting capacity of the antilymphocyte serum. Non-specific activation of the eggs to release a signal which induces the production of early pregnancy factor (EPF) or the resorption of seminal plasma components into the blood circulation are considered as possible explanations for the EPF-like activity after mating with a vasectomized boar.