Humoral and cellular immune responses to Salmonella typhi in patients with typhoid fever

Humoral and cellular immune responses to Salmonella typhi have been studied in nine children with typhoid fever. By using dot immunobinding assay, anti-O-polysaccharide chain and antilipid A antibody titers have been evaluated during the course of the disease. Anti-O-polysaccharide chain antibody titers are lower at the first week and increase up to the third week of the infection. On the other hand, antilipid A antibody levels, which are already higher at the beginning of the disease, progressively augment during the following weeks. Concerning cellular immunity to S. typhi, antibacterial activity mediated by typhoid peripheral mononuclear cells has been determined. Results show this function to be depressed in the initial phase of typhoid, increasing with the time. Together, these data bring new insight on immunity in typhoid patients.     

Humoral and cellular immune dysfunction in a patient with Bloom's syndrome and recurrent infections

Immunological evaluation of a patient with Bloom's syndrome (BS) who suffered from recurrent bacterial and fungal infections, revealed low serum levels of IgG and high levels of IgM accompanied by an elevated proportion of surface membrane IgM positive B-lymphocytes and a decreased proportion of IgG positive B-cells. In vitro IgG secretion was also reduced whereas IgM production was normal. Although proportions of T-cell subsets were normal and proliferative responses to T-cell mitogens were adequate, a defective regulatory T-cell function for the generation of IgG was observed. Natural killer (NK) cell activity against K562 tumor cells was also decreased in this patient. The findings in this patient may suggest a maturation arrest of lymphocytes at an early developmental stage, and this may explain in part the increased susceptibility to infections.     

Humoral and cellular immune responses of atopic individuals in a tropical environment

In this study we compared immediate, intermediate and delayed skin test reactivity, total and specific serum IgE, IgG, A, M antibody and lymphocyte proliferative responses, between atopic and normal individuals in the tropical environment of Caracas, Venezuela (Lat. 10 degrees N). The allergenic extracts tested were prepared from house dust, mixed moulds and Aspergillus fumigatus. In lymphocyte stimulation the mitogen Concanavalin A was also employed, the cultures being supplemented with either autologous plasma, or a gamma globulin-depleted pool. The results revealed the association of immediate skin reactions with IgE antibody against house dust, and intermediate reactions with IgG, A, M antibody against moulds. No relation was, however, detected between delayed skin reactivity and in vitro lymphocyte transformation; skin reactions occurred at the highest frequency with moulds, while house dust provoked the strongest in vitro stimulation. Also, although the areas of positive delayed reactions were greatest in the atopic individuals, the lymphocyte proliferative responses were clearly highest in the normal subjects. The significance of the positivity of lymphocyte transformation tests in all of the study group, but lower reactivity in the atopics, is considered.     

Humoral immune response after vaccination against influenza in patients with breast cancer

The aim of this pilot study was to assess a humoral response to influenza vaccine in 9 women with breast cancer. In the epidemic season 1998/1999 the patients received a single 0.5-ml dose of split influenza vaccine (Vaxigrip, Pasteur Merieux). Humoral response was measured by the hemagglutinin inhibition test in sera collected before vaccination and 1 month after vaccination. All results were compared with a control group of 19 healthy vaccinated women. The mean 'fold' increases ranged from 12.0 to 22.2 in patients with breast cancer and from 10.5 to 29.2 in healthy women. After vaccination, protection rates ranged from 44.4% to 88.9% and 63.2% to 94.7%, respectively. Response rates were between 44.4% and 88.9% in women with cancer and between 63.2% and 78.9% in the control group. After vaccination, antihaemagglutinin antibody titers were significantly higher than the prevaccination titers. During the whole study there were no statistically significant differences in humoral response between patients with breast cancer and healthy women. The results of the present study clearly show that women with breast cancer, including those undergoing chemotherapy, were able to develop a good serological response to influenza vaccine.     

Humoral immune response following extracorporeal immunoadsorption therapy of patients with hypercholesterolemia

Low-density lipoprotein apheresis (LDL-apheresis) is an extracorporeal procedure that preferentially removes LDL cholesterol from the blood. One of the primary techniques for performing this procedure uses immunoadsorption columns containing monospecific polyclonal sheep antibodies to human LDL covalently coupled to a gel filtration medium. LDL-apheresis has generally been well-tolerated, with chills, fever, or flushing occurring rarely. The possibility of an immune reaction was investigated as a basis for these reactions observed in 12 of the 1312 procedures performed. Antibodies to sheep IgG developed in 12 of the 15 patients treated with LDL-apheresis as a result of the shedding of small quantities of the sheep immunoglobulin from the columns. A column acid-washing procedure minimized the quantity of shed antibody but did not prevent immunization of the patient. The clinical reactions were probably unrelated to shedding and immunization, as the reactions occurred even in patients who were not immunized to the sheep IgG. Immunization to ethylene oxide was not the cause, as determined by a radioallergosorbent test. The reactions were more likely related to the activation of complement, as indicated by the generation of C3a des Arg by the columns and an increase in C3a des Arg levels systemically.     

Antigen recognition and the immune response. Humoral and cellular immune responses to small mono- and bifunctional antigen molecules

L-Tyrosine azobenzene-p-arsonate (RAT) induced cellular immunity without antibody production in guinea pigs. Bifunctional antigens were prepared consisting of one RAT carrier moiety linked either directly to a dinitrophenyl (DNP) haptenic determinant or through one or more 6-amino-caproyl (SAC) spacers. Each SAC unit has an extended span of 8 A. Guinea pigs immunized with these conjugates developed cellular immunity directed against the RAT determinant and antibody specific for the DNP determinant. The anti-DNP response was the same with one or three SAC spacers, but was significantly weaker when the two determinants were joined without a spacer. Animals immunized with either DNP-SAC-TYR or DNP-TYR developed neither cellular nor humoral immunity. Prior immunization with RAT potentiated the secondary anti-hapten response to DNP-SAC-RAT. Modification of RAT at either the arsonate or tyrosine positions showed that other charged groups (sulfonate and trimethylammonium) could substitute for arsonate without loss of immunogenicity. Removal of either the amino or carboxyl group from the side chain of tyrosine did not abolish immunogenicity, but immunogenicity was lost upon removal of both. Immunization with symmetrical bifunctional RAT-(SAC)_n-RAT and cyclo-(L-RAT-D-RAT) antigens led to cellular immunity but no anti-arsonate antibody, suggesting a barrier to "self-help." These compounds were also ineffective in inducing a secondary anti-arsonate response in animals primed with arsonate-BSA conjugates and RAT.     

Humoral and cellular adaptation mechanisms in development of intoxication syndrome in patients with acute viral hepatitis

AIM: To study endotoxin-binding function of blood in patients with acute viral hepatitis (AVH) in the course of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 335 patients with AVH were examined. The titers of IgG antiendotoxin antibodies to glycolipid of Re-chemotype were estimated in enzyme immunoassay (Diaendotox-2 kit), endotoxin-binding activity (EBA) of high density lipoproteins (HDLP) in EIA with the kit Liprobind (Microecos). The number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PL) binding lipopolysaccharides were counted by M. Yu. Yakovlev et al. method. For detection of PL binding endotoxin of gram-negative bacteria, kits Endim (Microecos) were used, beta2-microglobulin was estimated by a radioimmunoassay using kits made in Belarus Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry. Registration of chemoluminescence was conducted on chemiluminometer LBK 1251 (Finland) by M. Wilson (1985) method. RESULTS: In moderate AVH at the height of intoxication a low Re-antibodies level was recorded irrespective of the disease etiology. To convalescence this level went up. PL reserves in AVH patients were low except patients with AVH C who had unaffected neutrophil reverves in relation to LPS binding. At the height of AVH, HDLP EBA was very high in all the groups with normalization to convalescence. In VHC high HDLP EBA persisted as long as the disease course. A significant rise of beta2-microglobulin was seen in all the groups of AVH patients, its severity correlating with the degree of the disease severity. CONCLUSION: One of the leading factors in development of indoxication in AVH patients is a lipopolysaccharide complex of gram-negative intestinal bacteria actively coming into blood flow due to hepatocyte cytolysis. In response to LPS action there appeared a stereotypic adaptation complex of reactions in the form of activation of cellular and humoral immune response.     

红细胞免疫、细胞免疫与胃溃疡患者Hp感染的关系

目的分析研究红细胞免疫、细胞免疫与胃溃疡患者Hp感染的关系。方法选取76例胃溃疡患者为观察组,76例同龄健康者为对照组,检测2组的红细胞免疫及细胞免疫指标,并比较观察组中不同Hp感染DOB值患者的红细胞免疫及细胞免疫指标,同时采用Logistic分析红细胞免疫、细胞免疫与胃溃疡Hp感染的关系。结果观察组的红细胞及细胞免疫指标均差于对照组,且观察组中Hp感染者的红细胞及细胞免疫指标均差于未发生感染者,Hp感染DOB值较高者则差于DOB值较低者。经Logistic分析显示,红细胞免疫、细胞免疫均与胃溃疡Hp感染有密切关系(P0.05)。结论胃溃疡患者Hp感染者的红细胞免疫及细胞免疫呈现较差的状态,且Hp感染程度对其免疫指标的表达影响较大,应给予针对性的调节干预。     

脓毒症免疫麻痹与细胞免疫调理治疗研究进展

脓毒症是目前引起 ICU 患者死亡的主要原因之一,其高病死率的原因可能与具体病理生理机制的认识不清楚相关,作为一种复杂的多系统、多机制疾病,免疫炎症系统反应紊乱可能是其主要机制之一,脓毒症免疫紊乱主要表现为炎症因子风暴和免疫麻痹,免疫麻痹的机制可能包括：免疫细胞凋亡、免疫细胞抑制和免疫细胞耗竭。本文就脓毒症免疫麻痹发生病理生理机制、免疫监测、细胞免疫调理治疗作一综述,以其提高脓毒症免疫抑制认识。     

Humoral immune responses in mice infected with Angiostrongylus costaricensis

The nature of antibody responses were investigated in mice experimentally infected with ten third stage larvae of Angiostrongylus costaricensis. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was designed to detect the circulating antibodies using adult somatic (SA) and excretory-secretory (ES) antigens. Antibodies to SA antigens could be detected at low level from the second week of infection but rose gradually from week 3 until week 5. Antibodies to ES antigens could be detected at higher levels from week 2 and continued rising to reach a peak at week 4. Mebendazole showed some in vitro effect on adult worms but no such effect was found with thiabendazole. There was no difference in the antibody level between just before treatment and five weeks post infection.     

体液免疫和细胞免疫功能检测对梅毒患者的诊断意义

目的探讨分析体液免疫及细胞免疫功能检测对梅毒患者的诊断意义。方法选择该院收治的未经驱梅治疗的梅毒患者86例作为研究对象(梅毒组),其中一期梅毒患者26例、二期梅毒患者39例、潜伏梅毒患者21例,再选择健康受试者30例作为对照组,比较梅毒患者与健康受试者之间体液免疫及细胞免疫水平。结果梅毒组患者IgG、IgA、IgM水平均较对照组显著升高(P0.05);一期梅毒患者与对照组比较,IgG、IgA以及IgM水平差异均无统计学意义(P0.05),二期梅毒、潜伏期梅毒患者IgG、IgA及IgM水平较对照组显著升高,且二期梅毒升高最为显著(P0.05);各期梅毒患者CD3+、CD4+、CD4+/CD8+及NK细胞水平均较对照组显著降低(P0.05),而CD8+水平较对照组显著升高(P0.05),其中以二期梅毒患者变化最为显著。结论梅毒患者体液免疫功能亢进,而细胞免疫功能缺陷,患者总体表现出自身免疫功能的紊乱,体液免疫和细胞免疫功能检测对梅毒患者的诊断有一定的临床价值。     

The level of malondialdehyde-modified LDL and LDL immune complexes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectivesTo explore possible associations of malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) and LDL-immune complexes (LDL-IC) with atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Design and methodsPlasma MDA-LDL, LDL-IC levels and mechanisms of the changes were investigated in RA patients with or without coronary artery disease (CAD), simple CAD patients and control.ResultsMDA-LDL and LDL-IC levels were found increased in all the studied patients, the RA patients with CAD exhibited the most significant changes. MDA-LDL levels were higher in the RA patients with CAD than those both in the simple RA and CAD patients. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that CAD, LDL-IC and erythrocyte sedimentation rate accounted for 36.5% of the variation in MDA-LDL levels; and age, activity, MDA-LDL and rheumatoid factors accounted for 34.5% of the variation in LDL-IC.ConclusionsHigh levels of MDA-LDL and LDL-IC are risk factors for increased risk of atherosclerosis in RA patients and are associated with inflammation.