Modulation of antigen-induced T cell proliferation by alpha 2M-trypsin complexes

Proteinase-complexed alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) could be shown to interfere with T cell proliferation in response to antigen presented by autologous antigen-pulsed monocytes (M phi) (antigen-induced M phi-T cell interaction, MTI). Addition of alpha 2M-trypsin (alpha 2M X T) complexes to cultures of T cells and antigen-pulsed M phi led to a dose-dependent decrease of T cell proliferation (up to 91% inhibition of the T cell response), whereas the same concentrations of free (native) alpha 2M had no effect on antigen-induced MTI. The observed interference with MTI could be attributed to residual enzymic activity of the alpha 2M X T complex. Addition of aprotinin, a low Mr protein proteinase inhibitor able to penetrate to the enzyme entrapped within the alpha 2M molecule and thus bind to and inactivate the enzyme's active site, resulted in a reversal of the alpha 2M X T-induced biological effect. Inactivation of the enzyme's active site within alpha 2M X T was monitored by a decrease in the hydrolytic activity of the complex. Kinetic studies (addition of alpha 2M X T 24 to 48 hr after culture onset was shown to be still inhibitory) indicated an effect at the level of the T cell or its mediators, but an overnight incubation of T cells with alpha 2M X T did not alter these cells' capacity to proliferate in response to an antigenic stimulus. An additional effect of alpha 2M X T on the antigen-presenting cell cannot be ruled out at present. However, alpha 2M X T did not alter the percentage of monocytes expressing HLA-DR, -DP, and -DQ or interfere with interleukin 1 release if added to M phi at concentrations that significantly inhibited MTI. Furthermore, incubation of M phi with alpha 2M X T for 1 hr before antigen pulsing had no effect on the M phi antigen presenting capacity.     

The spread of somatosensory-evoked potentials within the nervous system

Four thalamic and cortical recordings were carried out in 5 patients. The thalamic-evoked potentials were typical and revealed a triphasic complex, but their latencies showed a relatively high standard deviation. They could be divided into two groups according to their latencies, both of which had low SD. These data suggested that there could be two types of latency of thalamic SEP, because the 4 patients' body sizes were very similar. More detailed surface, cortical and depth recordings are needed to resolve these questions.     

Characterization of messenger RNA from epimastigotes and metacyclic trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi

The cell-free translation products of polyribosomal and post-polyribosomal mRNAs from the non-infective epimastigotes and the infective metacyclic trypomastigotes of the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi were compared by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The result show that although many polypeptides are conserved, quantitative and qualitative differences are observed between both differentiation stages. The results also indicate the existence of post-polyribosomal mRNAs in equilibrium with polyribosomal counterparts. The immunoprecipitation of the in vitro synthesized polypeptides with chagasic human serum and the serum raised against an 85-kDa glycoprotein (P2-WGA), potentially involved in the process of T. cruzi penetration into mammalian cells, shows that while the chagasic serum recognizes the same 72-kDa, 68-kDa and 46-kDa polypeptides in both differentiation stages, the anti-P2-WGA serum immunoprecipitates a single 48-kDa polypeptide from in vitro translation products of metacyclic trypomastigotes.     

Growth inhibitory effects of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine in HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells resistant to differentiation induction

In the original HL-60 cells (HL-60-S) and an HL-60 subline (HL-60-R) respectively susceptible and resistant to induction of differentiation by retinoic acid or dimethyl sulfoxide, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine inhibited growth equally but induced differentiation to a greater extent in HL-60-S. Flow cytometry showed that 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine produced in both HL-60 lines an increased proportion of cells in G2+M rather than G0/G1 as with retinoic acid. 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine may have a differentiation-inducing effect in HL-60 provided cells have the competence to differentiate, indicating the importance of an alternate mechanism of action.     

Changes in glycosylated haemoglobin after poor control in insulin-dependent diabetics.

Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1) was measured in seven insulin-dependent diabetic patients before, during, and after a seven-day period of monitored poor control. There was considerable individual variation in the pattern and degree of change in HbA1 concentration induced by poor control and the time when it occurred. Greater increases in HbA1 were seen during the period of metabolic derangement than in the subsequent two months. More information is required before HbA1 estimations are widely used clinically to monitor control in individual diabetics.     

Diagnostic test systems based on the immunoenzyme method in leprosy

Diagnostic test systems for the detection of IgG and IgM to Mycobacterium leprae in the blood sera of leprosy patients and armadillos experimentally infected with M. leprae have been developed on the basis of the indirect immunoperoxidase assay. The possibility has been shown of prognosing the activity of the leprotic process in leprosy patients and the results of the experimental infection of armadillos by the dynamic increase of antibody reactions with the development of the infection.