Two Esterases Common to Seminal Plasma, other External Secretions and Leucocytes in Man

Dos esterasas comunes al plasma seminal, a otras secreciones externa y a los leucocitos, en el hombre
Las esterasas previamente identificadas en el plasma seminal, por su movilidad elec-troforética, inmunogenicidad y sensibilidad a los esteres orgánicos de fosforo, se detectaron en diversas secreciones humanas externas y en extractos de leucocitos. La esterasa se encontró abundantemente en la orina y en la leche, mientras que en el plasma seminal, extracto de leucocitos, moco cervical y sudor la concentracion fué baja.
La concentración de betagama-esterasa fué alta enel plasma seminal y extracto de leucocitos. La enzima estaba presente en pequeña cantidad en la orina, leche, jugo - gástrico, saliva, esputo, lagrimas, moco cervical y sudor.

Zusammenfassung

Zwei Esterasen im Seminaplasma, in anderen extemen Sekreten und in Leukocyten des Mannes
Zwei Esterasen,- die vorher im Seminalplasma identifiziert worden waren, wurden auf der Basis ihrer elektrophoretischen Mobilität, ihrer Immuneigenschaften und Sensitivität gegen Organphosphorester in verschiedenen extemen Sekreten und Leukocytenextrakten bestimmt. α-Esterase wurde weder im Urin noch in der Milch nachgeweisen, während dieses Ferment in niedriger Konzentration im Seminaplasma, im Leukocytenextrakt, im Zervikalmukus und im Schweiß nachzuweisen war. Die Konzentration der βγ-Esterase war im Seminalplasma und im Leukocytenextrakt hoch; in geringer Konzentration konnte dieses Enzym im Urin, in der Milch, im Magensaft, Sputum, Tränen, Zervikalschleim und Schweiß nachgewiesen werden.     

Effect of Treatments with Cyclosporin A and Anti-Interferon-γ Antibodies on the Mechanisms of Immune Tolerance in Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B Primed Mice

The authors were interested to investigate the effect of Cyclosporin A (CsA), known to block interleukin-2 (IL-2) production, or of anti-interferon-γ antibodies (anti-IFN-γ Abs) in a model of T cell tolerance induced by the injection of the superantigen Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB) in BALB/c mice. After SEB immunization, tolerance was mainly achieved through deletion and anergy of SEB-reactive Vβ8⁺ T cells. Association of CsA treatment with SEB led to a greater decrease of the percentage of Vβ8⁺ CD4⁺ lymphocytes in the spleen and an abolition of clonal anergy. In contrast, treatment of SEB primed mice with anti-IFN-γ Abs resulted in an increased percentage of Vβ8⁺ CD4⁺ cells without affecting the induction of clonal anergy. The authors found that 1–2 h after SEB priming, splenic mRNA levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 were decreased by either CsA and anti-IFN-γ Abs, whereas FasL, Bcl-2, p. 53, and c-myc levels were not influenced by either treatment. However, SEB-induced IL-2 and IL-10 mRNA expression was suppressed only by CsA, whereas tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was decreased only by anti-IFN-γ Abs. To investigate whether the effect of CsA on the tolerance mechanisms was related to suppression of IL-2, CsA was administered together with recombinant IL-2. Whereas anergy was not influenced, the decreased percentage of Vβ8⁺ CD4⁺ cells seen in CsA-treated animals in the second week after SEB injection was partially corrected by the administration of IL-2. Experiments involving bromodeoxiuridine incorporation revealed that the latter effect of IL-2 was mainly due to a correction of the defective proliferation of Vβ8⁺ T cells after SEB injection in CsA-treated mice. These results suggest that the effect of CsA and anti-IFN-γ Abs on tolerance mechanisms are in part explained by their action on cytokines.     

Oral treatment of ichthyosis by the cytochrome P-450 inhibitor liarozole

Liarozole, a novel imidazole derivative, inhibits the cytochrome P450-dependent 4-hydroxylation of retinoic acid. resulting in increased tissue levels of retinoic acid. Twelsve male patients with ichthyosis were given oral liarozole. 150mg twice daily. in an open study for 12 weeks. Immunohistochemical parameters of inflammation, epidermal proliferation and differentiation were assessed before and after treatment. Extent and severity of the skin lesions was markedly reduced in all prtients. Clinical side-effects were reminiscent of those with synthetic retinoids. No relevant changes were found in the haematological. urinary and biochemical parameters. Immunohistochemical assessment showed a statistically significant induction of keratin 4 after liarozole treatment in 10 of 12 patients. In two of these patients keratin 13 was induced. This open study showed that oral liarozole treatment was efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of different types of ichthyosis. The immunohisotchemical results suggest a retinoid mechanism as the mode of action.     

The cachexia associated with Trypanosoma cruzi acute infection in mice is attenuated by anti-TNF-a, but not by anti-IL-6 or anti-IFN-7 antibodies

BALB/c male mice acutely infected with Trypanosoma cruzi underwent a severe weight loss (around 20%, from day 18 to 31 post-infection), when compared to age-matched uninfected animals. Though mice regained weight later, when blood parasites were hardly detectable, wasting extended over the chronic phase of infection. The onset and the magnitude of weight loss were related to the mouse susceptibility to infection, since they were respectively earlier and higher in male mice which will die than in surviving ones, in males than in females, and in BALB/c than in B6D2 [(C57B1/6 × DBA/2)F1], a mouse strain more resistant to infection. Fat weight of infected mice (male BALB/c) was reduced by 60 to 80%, whereas lean mass was unaffected and water content rose by 6 to 10% in acute and chronic infection. Haematocrit was also decreased by 15–16% in acute infection. Animals failed to compensate their energetic loss since their food intake remained similar to that of uninfected animals. Injections of neutralizing anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody into infected male mice, during the first two weeks but not later in infection, significantly attenuated the weight loss. Early administration of anti-IL-6 or anti-IFN-γ MoAbs did not improve the mouse wasting. Taken together, these data show that TNFis a key agent of cachexia occurring in the acute T. cruzi infection in mice.     

Skin Test Hypersensitivity Study of a Cross-linked, Porcine Collagen Implant for Aesthetic Surgery

BACKGROUND The use of bovine collagen implants for dermal contour correction is associated with a 3% to 5% incidence of hypersensitivity, which necessitates pretreatment screening by an intradermal skin test.
OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine the incidence of hypersensitivity with the recently developed cross-linked, porcine collagen implant, EVOLENCE (ColBar LifeScience Ltd.), which is used intradermally for correction of rhytids and scars.
MATERIALS AND METHODS Enrolled subjects (n=530) received an intradermal injection of 0.1 mL EVOLENCE implant in the left forearm and a second injection in the right forearm after 2 weeks. Injection sites were assessed clinically at 30 minutes and 72 hours after each injection and at 30 days after the second injection. Serum anticollagen antibody determinations were performed at screening and at the end of the study.
RESULTS Study assessments were completed by 519 subjects. No significant erythematous reactions suggestive of positive hypersensitivity were observed. Most subjects did not display antibodies against porcine Type I collagen at any time, and those who did showed no changes in levels during the study. The single-sided 95% upper confidence limit for the possibility of moderate-to-severe erythematous reactions with the EVOLENCE implant was determined as 0.58% of subjects.
CONCLUSION Because the EVOLENCE implant has a low potential for hypersensitivity, intradermal skin testing before its use appears unnecessary.