Effect of polypeptides isolated from the thymus,cerebral cortex,and white matter on indices of cellular and humoral immunity in thymectomized mice

The effect of low-molecular-weight polypeptides (mol. wt. under 10,000), isolated by acetic acid extraction from the bovine thymus and cerebral cortex and white matter, on indices of cellular and humoral immunity was investigated in experiments on adult thymectomized CBA mice. Thymectomy sharply reduced the number of T cells in the spleen. The ability of these mice to produce both IgM and IgG antibody-forming cells and humoral antibodies to sheep's red blood cells, a thymus-dependent antigen, was correspondingly reduced considerably. Subcutaneous injection of polypeptides from the thymus or cerebral cortex into animals in a dose of 1 g/g over a period of 8 days not only completely restored the T cell population of the spleen and the immunologic reactivity of the thymectomized mice, but actually raised these indices by 50–100% compared with animals undergoing a mock operation and receiving physiological saline. Extract from the white matter of the brain had no biological activity.Laboratory of General Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. I. Ioffe.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 87, No. 6, pp. 572–574, June, 1979.     

Diminished anaphylactogenic properties of deaggregated γ-globulin

The comparative immunologic activity of native, aggregated, and deaggregated (tolerogenic) human -globulin was studied in experiments on mice and guinea pigs. Diminished activity of the deaggregated preparation was found in reactions of local and general hypersensitivity in sensitized animals, together with diminished ability to stimulate the secondary humoral immune response.Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Research Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. I. Ioffe.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 575–577, May, 1978.     

Responses of lymphocytes of hydrocortisone-stimulated and adrenalectomized mice to h alloantigens

The ability of spleen, bone marrow, and thymus cells of intact and adrenalectomized CBA mice, and of CBA mice receiving single or repeated doses of hydrocortisone, to induce a lymph node graft versus host reaction (GVHR) in (CBA×C57BL)F₁ hybrids was determined. The ability of the spleen and bone marrow cells to induce GVHR was increased two days after administration of 2.5 mg hydrocortisone, whereas the ability of the thymus cells was unchanged. Seven days and, in particular, 15 days after injection of hydrocortisone, the spleen cells were less active. Activity of the thymocytes in GVHR was increased two days after repeated daily injections of the hormone in a dose of 0.25 mg for 18 days, whereas activity of the spleen and bone marrow cells was unchanged.Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Novosibirsk. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. P. Kaznacheev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 88, No. 7, pp. 58–60, July, 1979.     

Effect of spontaneous loss of tolerance on T and B lymphocyte function in mice

Functional activity of spleen and thymus cells of mice tolerant to sheep's red blood cells was studied 1 and 4 days after induction of tolerance. Tolerance was obtained with the aid of cyclophosphamide. Complete restoration of the immunocompetence of the thymus cells was found after 4 weeks. The functional activity of splenic T and B lymphocytes also was partly restored 4 weeks after induction of tolerance. Preliminary thymectomy weakened but did not prevent complete restoration of competence of splenic T cells. No T suppressors were found in the thymus and spleen of the tolerant animals.Laboratory of Immunologic Tolerance, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR P. A. Vershilova.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 88, No. 9, pp. 314–317, September, 1979.     

Effect of stimulation and inhibition of erythropoiesis on antibody production and migration of B cells from the bone marrow and spleen in mice

The effect of stimulation and inhibition of erythropoiesis on the production of antibody-forming cells (AFC) in the spleen and on the migration of B cells from the bone marrow into the spleen was studied in CBA mice. Stimulation of erythropoiesis was shown to increase the number of AFC in the spleen and migration of B cells from the bone marrow into the spleen sharply 1 and 4 days after blood loss. Inhibition of erythropoiesis led to a very small increase in the number of AFC in the spleen 4 and 7 days after transfusion of syngeneic red cells and inhibited migration of B cells from the bone marrow into the spleen. The possible mechanisms of the effect of stimulation and inhibition of erythropoiesis on antibody formation are discussed.Laboratory of Regulation of Immunopoiesis, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Siberian Branch, Novosibirsk. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. P. Kaznacheev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 3, pp. 303–305, March, 1977.     

Properties and kinetics of the B lymphocyte population of rats during development

Cells carrying surface immunoglobulins (Ig⁺ cells) detected by the indirect immunofluorescence method, and cells forming rosettes with sheep's red blood cells (SRBC) with antibodies adsorbed on their surface and with complement (RFC), were found in the liver and spleen of rat fetuses at the 15th and 20th days of development. The relative percentage of Ig⁺ cells and RFC in the liver remained low and about the same level in rats on different days of postnatal development. In the spleen and bone marrow the number of Ig⁺ lymphocytes and RFC increased during the first month of the rat's life, to reach a maximum in animals aged 30 days, and fell sharply in old rats. No Ig⁺ cells or RFC were present in the thymus or they were found in very small numbers at certain times of investigation. Ig⁺ lymphocytes with caps of fluorescence on their surface appeared in the spleen and bone marrow on the fifth and 10th days of life of the rat and their number rose considerably by the age of 30 days and in adult rats. No such cells were present in the lymphoid organs of old (40 months) animals.Laboratory of Embryonic Histogenesis, Institute of Human Morphology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. Institute of Molecular Biology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. P. Avtsyn.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 10, pp. 491–494, October, 1977.     

Dependence of antibody formation in lymphocyte cultures on incubation temperature

The increase in the number of antibody-forming cells (AFC) and in the incorporation of [³H]thymidine with a rise in the incubation temperature from 2 to 37°C was studied in cultures of spleen cells from immunized and nonimmunized C57BL/6 mice. An exponential increase in the number of AFC was found with an increase in temperature, and the existence of a critical temperature was demonstrated, above which the rate of increase in the number of AFC rises sharply. The curves showing increased incorporation of [³H]thymidine with an increase in temperature in some cases diverged from the curves of the increase in the number of AFC. Culture of immune cells at low temperatures leads to the accumulation of factors stimulating AFC formation in the medium.Laboratory of Chemistry and Biosynthesis of Antibodies, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR P. A. Vershilova.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 12, pp. 700–703, December, 1977.     

Effect of cyclophosphamide on synthesis of antibodies and nonspecific immuno-globulins in mouse spleen cells

Intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CP) into mice in a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight leads after 2–3 weeks to a marked acceleration of the formation of nonspecific immunoglobulins (NIG) by spleen cells in vitro. In the early period (3–7 days) after injection of CP the acceleration of NIG production was due mainly to synthesis of macroglobulins; after 2 weeks the formation of both macroglobulins and IgG was increased. Normal NIG synthesis was not restored until at least 1 month later. Injection of antigen (sheep's red cells) against the background of hyperproduction of NIG led to a decrease in the latter. The formation of antibodies against red cells in mice treated with CP was at a lower level at all times of the investigation than in control immunized animals.Laboratory of Chemistry and Biosynthesis of Antibodies and Laboratory of Immunologic Tolerance, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR P. A. Vershilova.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 1, pp. 62–65, January, 1977.     

Specific blockage of the immune response by an excess of Salmonella typhi Vi-antigen

Intravenous injection of 200 g of Vi-antigen into adult mice induces a state of short-term (10–12 days) areactivity in the animals. The observed depression of the immune response is due to blockage of the immunocompetent cells and not to masking of antibody production through binding with the excess of free antigen. Washing a suspension of spleen cells twice before using them in the local passive hemolysis in gel test did not reduce the blockage of the immune response; moreover, no free antigen capable of binding antibodies produced by cells of the immune animal could be found in the spleen of the experimental animals. Blockage of the immune response could be abolished by injecting heterologous antiserum against Vi-antigen into the animals 18–24 h before Jerne's test. Injection of 6-thioguanine after 200 g of Vi-antigen prevented restoration of the immune response by means of the antiserum. It is concluded from the results that injection of a massive dose of Vi-antigen does not block proliferation and differentiation of antigen-recognizing cells but inhibits the synthesis or secretion of antibodies.Laboratory of Immunologic Tolerance, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR G. V. Vygodchikov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 4, pp. 444–447, April, 1978.     

Mechanism of tolerance toSalmonella typhi Vi antigen induced with cyclophosphamide

Treatment with Vi antigen followed after 46–48 h by cyclophosphamide induces a state of specific areactivity in mice which persists through adoptive transfer. Only trace amounts of Vi antigen were found in the blood and spleen of the tolerant mice after 2–3 weeks. No T suppressors were found in the spleen of the tolerant animals: Cells of the tolerant mice did not depress the immune response of normal lymphocytes when cultured togetherin vivo and they did not induce tolerance in intact recipients; the cells of normal donors partially restored the immunoreactivity of the tolerant animals. The results suggest that this form of tolerance is due to elimination or prolonged inactivation of the immunocompletent cells.Laboratory of Immunological Tolerance, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR P. A. Vershilova.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 4, pp. 440–443, April, 1977.     

Effect of taurine on the cyclic AMP and GMP levels in the rat heart during stress

Taurine had no effect on the cyclic nucleotide level in the heart of intact rats but sharply reduced the increase in cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels taking place during stress. The action of taurine on the cyclic GMP content in the heart was not exhibited after preliminary atropinization of the animals; its effect on cyclic AMP was greatly reduced after partial blockade of -adrenoreceptors. It is suggested that taurine is a nonspecific regulator of the sensitivity of the myocardial cells to biologically active substances.All-Union Cardiologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, E. I. Chazov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 87, No. 2, pp. 134–137, February, 1979.     

Immunological competence of T and B lymphocytes in clophosphamide-induced tolerance

Immunological competence of T and B lymphocytes of mice was studied 7 days after induction of tolerance by injection of a massive dose of sheep's red cells and cyclophosphamide. The ability of lymphocytes of the tolerant mice to influence cooperation between normal T and B lymphocytes also was investigated. This particular form of tolerance was shown to be due not to suppressor T cells, but to a true deficiency of helper T cells (in both the thymus and spleen) and, to some extent also, of B cells (in the spleen). The very small deficiency of B cells in the bone marrow was connected with the nonspecific action of cyclophosphamide. It is postulated that cyclophosphamide selectively eliminates cells proliferating under the influence of the antigen.Laboratory of Immunological Tolerance, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR O. V. Baroyan.) Translated from Byullenten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 81, No. 4, pp. 445–447, April, 1976.     

Effect of bacterial polysaccharide on number of rosette-forming cells in mice with depressed immunological reactivity

The effect of bacterial polysaccharide on the number of rosette-forming cells (RFC) was studied in mice with depressed immunological reactivity (iraadiation with rays in a dose of 200 mg/kg). Bacterial polysaccharide was shown to increase the number of RFC in the intact, immunized, and irradiated animals. However, the polysaccharide had no stimulant action on RFC formation in mice treated with cyclophosphamide, confirming differences in the nature of depression of immunological reactivity after irradiation and cyclophosphamide.Laboratory of Natural Immunity, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR O. V. Baroyan.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 1, pp. 58–59, January, 1977.     

Dependence of the functional activity of immunocompetent mouse spleen cells on their hematopoietic microenvironment

Accumulation of erythroid cells and granulocytes, changes in the relative and absolute numbers of T-, B-, and null lymphocytes, and also sharp inhibition of the primary immune response were found in the spleen of CBA mice treated with specific antierythrocytic serum (AES). The inductive phase of immunogenesis proved to be sensitive to the action of AES. Injection of syngeneic macrophages and splenocytes did not overcome the immunodepression. The results can be regarded as evidence of the existence of functional dependence between the immunocompetent cells of the spleen and their nonlymphoid hematopoietic microenvironment.Deceased.Research Institute of Medical Radiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Obninsk. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR N. A. Fedorov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 87, No. 3, pp. 260–263, March, 1979.     

Effect of avitaminosis B6 in mice on T-lymphocyte function in vitro

The effect of different degrees of avitaminosis B₆ in mice on the cytolytic activity of T lymphocytes, measured as the quantity of Na₂Cr⁵¹O₄ released from lysed target cells, was studied on a model of the primary immune response in a mixed lymphocyte culture in vitro. Keeping animals for 3 weeks on a diet without pyridoxine did not affect the ability of the lymphocytes to proliferate in vitro or their cytolytic activity. In animals receiving a diet without pyridoxine for 45 days the content of pyridoxal-5-phosphate in the spleen was 55% lower than in the control. Lymphocytes taken from these animals, when cultured in vitro, showed sharply weakened ability to incorporate [³H]thymidine into DNA in response to the alloantigen. The cytolytic activity of these lymphocytes also was reduced. The ability of different forms of pyridoxine to restore the functions of T lymphocytes, when disturbed by avitaminosis B₆, was studied.Laboratory of Systemic Blood Diseases, Oncologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR N. A. Kraevskii.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 8, pp. 185–188, August, 1977.     

Antibody-forming capacity of mouse spleen cells after hypoxic hypoxia and injection of erythropoietin

The absolute and relative (per 10⁶ spleen cells) number of antibody-forming cells (AFC) in the spleen of CBA mice was found to be reduced by half of the 1st, 4th, and 7th days after acute hypoxia (12 h, 6700 m) and on the 1st and 4th days after the end of exposure to chronic hypoxia (16 h daily for 16 days, 6700 m). By the 7th day after the end of exposure to chronic hypoxia the number of AFC in the spleen of the mice was back to normal. One of two injections of erythropoietin reduced the absolute and relative number of AFC in the spleen of the posthypoxic mice by 33–50% compared with control animals.Laboratory of Regulation of Immunopoiesis, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Novosibirsk. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. P. Kaznacheev.) Translated from Byulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 565–567, May, 1978.     

Suppression of interferon synthesis during the graft versus host reaction in (CBA×C57BL/6) F1 mice

During the development of the graft versus host reaction (GVHR) in (CBA×C57BL/6) F₁ mice after transplantation of spleen cells from mice of the parental C57BL/6 strain, production of serum interferon induced by intraperitoneal injection of Newcastle disease virus was sharply reduced. Interferon production was reduced and later completely abolished in cultures of bone marrow cells from mice during development of the GVHR. This phenomenon can serve as a criterion of the development of the GVHR.Department of Virology, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Department of Microbiology, Smolensk Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. D. Solov'ev.) Translated from Byulletin' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 9, pp. 1098–1100, September, 1976.     

Stimulation of mitotic activity of the hepatocytes and kupffer cells of the liver of intact mice by T- and B-lymphocytes of partially hepatectomized syngeneic donors

T-lymphocytes from the spleen of partially hepatectomized CBA mice enhance the mitotic activity of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells of the liver in nonoperated recipients. The proliferation induced by these cells is equal to the inductive capacity of the whole suspension of lymphocytes from the spleen of partially hepatectomized animals, which contain T- and B-lymphocytes. The proliferation induced by B-lymphocytes from the spleen of operated mice is significantly lowered and is displayed chiefly in relation to Kupffer cells.Laboratory of Growth and Development, Institute of Human Morphology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. Laboratory of Immunology, Moscow Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the USSR. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. P. Avtsyn.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 89, No. 1, pp. 69–70, January, 1980.     

Esterase spectrum in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells of the regenerating liver

The esterase spectrum in hepatocytes and Kuppfer cells of the regenerating rat liver was determined by electrophoresis in starch gel. The relative number of Kupffer cells, the percentage of phagocytic Kupffer cells, and the frequency of mitosis in the hepatocytes were determined. The esterase spectrum of hepatocytes isolated from the intact liver consisted of six zones, and that of the Kupffer cells of five zones of enzyme activity. The spectrum of the hepatocytes was simplified 2.5 h after partial hepatectomy, additional bands of activity appeared toward 9 h, and these persisted until 24 h after the operation. The original esterase spectrum was restored 48 h after the operation. A similar reorganization of the esterase spectrum was observed in the Kupffer cells but this was not fully restored 72 h after partial hepatectomy.Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Novosibirsk. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Kaznacheev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 7, pp. 44–46, July, 1977.     

Response of colony-forming bone marrow cells of irradiated mice to some phlogogenic factors

Experiments of irradiated mice (600 and 800 R) showed that the numbers of colonies in the spleen is increased under the influence of phlogogenic factors and their morphological composition is changed. It is suggested that under the influence of a noxious agent a hypothetical factor causing the above-mentioned changes is formed in the skin.Research Institute of Medical Radiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Obninsk. Institute of Occupational Diseases, Orel. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR G. A. Zedgenidze.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 87, No. 4, pp. 293–295, April, 1979.