In vitro activation of specific helper and suppressor T cells by the type 2 antigen polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)

Although type 2 antigens, such as PVP, generally do not activate specific TH, previous studies have established that low doses of PVP (0.0025 microgram) can activate TH in vivo which provide help in primed B cells for PVP-specific IgG responses. Doses of PVP that are optimally immunogenic for IgM antibody production (0.25 to 25 micrograms) preferentially activate PVP-specific TS, which suppress IgG antibody production. In the studies reported here, TH and TS that regulate PVP-specific IgG antibody responses were activated in vitro by culturing normal spleen cells for 4 days with PVP. Induction of the TH and TS is dependent upon the amount of PVP in culture: 10(-4) micrograms PVP activates TH, whereas 10(-2) micrograms PVP preferentially activates TS. TH induced in vitro express Thy-1, L3T4, and I-A determinants and help provided by these TH is similar in magnitude to that provided by TH from mice primed with 0.0025 microgram PVP in vivo. TH can also be activated in vitro if donor mice are treated with Cy before culture of their spleen cells with 10(-2) micrograms PVP. Cy pretreatment prevents TS activation, and TH are then induced in these cultures. The presence of TS does not prevent activation of TH by 10(-2) micrograms PVP, because removal of TS by treatment of T cells with anti-Lyt-2 + complement at the end of culture uncovers TH activity. This TH activity is comparable with that of TH obtained after culture with 10(-4) micrograms PVP. The ability to activate PVP-specific TH and TS in vitro should allow determination of the mechanisms involved in activation of T cells by type 2 antigens and the mechanisms by which TS and TH interact with one another.     

Phenotype and localization of thymocytes expressing the homing receptor-associated antigen MEL-14: arguments for the view that most mature thymocytes are located in the medulla

The monoclonal antibody MEL-14 recognizes a lymphocyte surface structure (the MEL-14 antigen) involved in migration of lymphocytes into lymph nodes. Its use as a maturation marker for T cells within the thymus led to the view that a small population (1 to 2%) of MEL-14high thymocytes located in the inner cortex represented fully mature cells about to exit as thymus emigrants. The medulla, in this view, contained only the phenotypically mature but MEL-14low cells, and was not the source of thymus emigrants. The data we present, derived from flow-cytometric analysis of suspension-stained CBA mouse thymocytes, is not in accordance with this view. A high proportion (approximately 20%) of thymocytes express relatively high levels of MEL-14; these include some immature Ly-2- L3T4- and nonmature Ly-2+ L3T4+ thymocytes. Among the 12 to 14% thymocytes of mature phenotype (PNAlow or H-2Khigh or Ly-2+ L3T4- and Ly-2- L3T4+), more than half express relatively high levels of MEL-14. The mature phenotype and MEL-14moderate-to-high cells (8% of thymocytes) appear too numerous to account for the few percent MEL-14high cells seen in the cortex in frozen sections, and the mature phenotype but MEL-14low cells (2 to 3% of thymocytes) too few to fill the medulla; however, both together account numerically for the medullary population. By section staining, the medulla contains Ly-2- L3T4+ and Ly-2+ L3T4- cells in a characteristic 2:1 ratio; by suspension staining this ratio agrees with that of the total mature phenotype population, but not with that of the MEL-14low subset previously claimed to represent medullary cells. Another paradox is apparent when suspension staining and section staining are compared: suspension staining reveals that many mature phenotype cells coexpress high levels of both MEL-14 and H-2K, yet section staining reveals H-2Khigh cells in the medulla but not in the inner cortex, and reveals scattered MEL-14high cells throughout the cortex but not in the medulla. We suggest that section staining for MEL-14 fails to locate the mature cells that stain for MEL-14 in suspension; the few MEL-14high cells localized in both the inner and the outer cortex on section staining are predominantly immature Ly-2- L3T4- and nonmature Ly-2+ L3T4+ thymocytes; the majority of thymocytes of mature phenotype, whether MEL-14high or MEL-14low on suspension staining, are of medullary location; the medulla is the most likely immediate source of thymic emigrants.     

Identification of an interleukin HP1-like plasmacytoma growth factor produced by L cells in response to viral infection

We have recently purified and partially sequenced a new T cell-derived lymphokine with growth factor activity for B cell hybridomas and plasmacytomas, which we named interleukin HP1 (HP1). Here we show that, in response to viral infection or after treatment with poly(rI).poly(rC), L cells produce a factor that is capable of supporting the in vitro growth and survival of HP1-dependent cell lines. Serologic and structural evidence is presented in favor of the identity between the fibroblast factor and HP1, demonstrating that non-T cells can make HP1-related molecules.     

Measurement of Acetylcholine Release in Freely Moving Rats by Means of Automated Intracerebral Dialysis

The present study demonstrates the feasibility of measuring acetylcholine in perfusion samples collected by means of in vivo brain dialysis in the striata of freely moving rats. The output of the dialysis device was directly connected to an automated sample valve of a HPLC-assay system that comprises a cation exchanger, a post-column enzyme reactor, and an electrochemical detector. The presence of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (neostigmine) in the perfusion fluid was required for the detection of acetylcholine in the perfusate. Increasing concentrations of neostigmine induced increasing amounts of acetylcholine. Continuous perfusion with a fixed concentration (2 microM) of neostigmine resulted in gradually increasing amounts of collected acetylcholine over time although a considerable variation between successive samples exists. The brain dialysis technique was further validated by studying the effect of various drugs. Systemically administered atropine increased the output of acetylcholine, whereas the addition of tetrodotoxin to the perfusion fluid resulted in a complete disappearance of the neurotransmitter.     

Correlations between cyclic AMP binding and chemoreception in Paramecium

Paramecium tetraurelia is attracted to cyclic AMP, which probably, as other attractants, signifies the presence of food. Attraction to cyclic AMP was specific, saturable, and, therefore, likely to be receptor-mediated. In these studies, we measured the binding of cyclic [3H]AMP to whole cells and found it to be saturable, reversible, and displaying specificity similar to that of attraction. An HPLC method of separating nucleotides was devised and used to determine that external cyclic AMP was degraded in the absence of IBMX, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and that cyclic AMP was taken into the cells in small amounts. Since binding and attraction were subsequently measured in the presence of IMBX, it was cyclic AMP and not a degradation product that served as the attractant stimulus for Paramecium.     

Detection by ELISA of Two Tobamoviruses in Orchids Using Monoclonal Antibodies

Five monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) were raised to the tobamovirus, odontoglossum ringspot virus (ORSV). All five McAbs reacted with the virus in double antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA but not in an ELISA using virus-coated plates. All the McAbs recognized a panel of ORSV strains and isolates, although one of the antibodies reacted better with some isolates and another reacted less with certain isolates than with type ORSV. It was possible to use the same McAbs both as coating and as biotinylated antibody in DAS-ELISA. None of the five McAbs was able to bind to orchid strains of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). In order to detect strains of both viruses, ORSV and TMV, in infected orchids it was necessary to include also McAbs raised against TMV in the immunoassays. The use of a mixed polyclonal-monoclonal antibody DAS-ELISA system is advocated for detecting both tobamoviruses in orchids.     

Reduced tumour necrosis factor-induced cytotoxicity by inhibitors of the arachidonic acid metabolism

The mechanism of tumour necrosis factor-mediated cytotoxicity was investigated by using various inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism. Phospholipase A2 inhibitors with different modes of action interfered with the cytotoxic action of TNF, whereas phospholipase C inhibitors did not. Neither cyclooxygenase nor lipoxygenase-blockers had a significant effect on TNF action. Experiments with scavengers of toxic oxygen radicals gave ambiguous results. The data obtained suggest the involvement of phospholipase A2 and arachidonic acid in the cytotoxic mechanism of TNF, but the exact role of these molecules is, however, still to be determined.     

Inhibition of human neutrophil collagenase by gold(I) salts used in chrysotherapy

Six gold(I) salts, some of which are used as drugs in chrysotherapy, are shown to be inhibitors of two forms of human neutrophil collagenase. The IC50 values vary over six orders of magnitude, the lowest being 3.5 nM for Myocrisin. Thus, inhibition is greatly affected by the identity of the ligands to the gold(I) atom. The inhibition of collagenase by these gold(I) salts may be a partial basis for their antiarthritic action.     

Development of amino acid transport system B0,+ in mouse blastocysts

The capacity of preimplantation mouse blastocysts to express the novel amino acid transport activity provisionally designated system B0,+ increased approximately 3-fold 1 day after administration of estrogen to their progesterone-primed, ovariectomized mothers. Nevertheless, blastocysts obtained 22-25 h after estrogen administration (implanting blastocysts) had to be incubated in vitro for about 20 min before they fully expressed their B0,+ activity. No similar increase in B0,+ activity was observed upon incubation of blastocysts obtained before estrogen administration (diapausing blastocysts). Rapid metabolic changes can be induced in the uterus by massaging it with a blunt instrument while it is receptive to implantation, and this treatment was found to increase the apparent B0,+ activity in implanting but not diapausing blastocysts. In contrast, the activity of an incompletely characterized, Na+-independent system, which accepts L-lysine as a substrate, decreased more than 2-fold when implanting blastocysts were incubated in vitro. No change in Na+-independent lysine uptake was detected during incubation of diapausing blastocysts. It is suggested that both uteri and blastocysts develop the capacity to change rapidly some of their metabolic processes near the time of implantation, and one of the processes which may be subject to rapid change in blastocysts is amino acid transport. These developmental events appear to coincide with and could be required for the decidual cell response and implantation of blastocysts in the uterus.     

Immobilization of microorganisms by adhesion: interplay of electrostatic and nonelectrostatic interactions

The adhesion of three microorganisms (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Acetobacter aceti, and Moniliella pollinis) to different materials has been studied using various supports (glass, metals, plastics), some of which were treated by an Fe(III) solution. The surface properties of the cells were characterized by the zeta potential and an index of hydrophobicity; characterization of the supports involved surface chemical analysis (XPS) and contact angle measurements. Cell suspensions in pure water at a given pH were left to settle on plates; the latter were then rinsed and examined microscopically, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and A. aceti adhere to metals under certain pH conditions but do not adhere to any of the other materials tested unless it is previously treated by ferric ions; adhesion of these hydrophilic cells is essentially controlled by electrostatic interactions. Moniliella pollinis adhere spontaneously to glass and to polymeric materials, but its attachment is also influenced by cell-cell or cell-support electrostatic repulsions; near the cell isoelectric point, cell flocculation is competing with adhesion to a support.