Delayed hypersensitivity to house dust-storage mites Thyrophagus putrescentiae in experimental allergic dermatoses]

House dust mites and storage mites proved to be one of the main allergens causing hypersensitivity in atopic dermatitis in allergic patients. The authors reproduced experimental allergic dermatosis on the model of delayed type hypersensitivity in guinea pigs, caused by sensitization to the allergen from the mite's bodies Tyrophagus putrescentiae--species having wide distribution in the country. The results characteristic for T-cell type hypersensitivity have been obtained: delayed positive skin tests after 24 hours, typical histomorphological picture (strong allergic alteration, epidermis desquamation, vasculitis, dermis T-cell infiltration and spongiosis--Waksman's syndrome). It is concluded that side by side with humoral IgE-mediated reaction there is strong delayed T-cell hypersensitivity to the storage mites Tyrophagus putrescentiae.     

Protein spectra and phospholipid composition of cholinoreceptor-enriched membranes from rat skeletal muscles after sensitization

The effect of neisserial sensitization on the protein spectra and phospholipid composition of acetyscholine receptor-rich membrane fragments was investigated in rat skeletal muscles. The sensitization led to substantial changes in the protein spectrum of the cell membranes of the skeletal muscles with high receptor activity in respect to choline. The phospholipid composition of the membranes was found to experience profound transformations. A considerable increase was noted in the content of sphingomye lin and phosphatidylcholine together with a marked drop in the content of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinosite and phosphatidylserine.     

Acetylcholine-induced lymphocyte mobility in intact and sensitized mice

During sensitization of BALB/c mice to protein antigen, spontaneous and acetylcholine-induced mobility of spleen lymphocytes increased, the maximum being reached on days 1-3 from the sensitization commencement. The acetylcholine-induced mobility of lymphocytes was reduced if the lymphocytes had been preexposed to the antigen. The data obtained attest to the same cellular substrate of antigen and acetylcholine effects.     

Bronchial asthma and endorphins

The paper deals with the investigation of endorphin content in the blood of patients with asthma. The increase in alpha- and beta-endorphin concentration was shown to depend on the severity of clinical manifestations of infectious-allergic and atopic forms of bronchial asthma. This regularity was not observed for gamma-endorphin. The infectious-allergic form of asthma was characterized by drastic reduction in the content of all three endorphin types upon treatment with dexamethasone. The possible role of endorphin reactions in the pathogenesis of asthma is discussed.     

Immunofluorescence studies of the immunoglobulin receptors of B-lymphocytes]

The surface membrane Ig receptors of B lymphocytes in patients with atopic pollen asthma were studied by the direct immunofluorescence method. Use was made of labelled sera against human IgE, and IgG. It was shown that on the average 2.1 +/- 0.33% lymphocytes had IgE receptors, 8.4 +/- 0.63% IgG receptors and 18.7 +/- 1.16% human globulin receptors. A specific nature of B lymphocytes is suggested.